Beijing has strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike in Tehran, warning that the killing could plunge the region into deeper chaos just a week after China helped broker a Palestinian unity deal.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated on Wednesday that Beijing “strongly opposed” the assassination and was “deeply concerned” about further regional turmoil.
“China has always advocated resolving regional disputes through negotiation and dialogue,” Lin said.
He reiterated a call for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further escalation.
Hamas announced on Wednesday that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he had been attending the inauguration of the country’s new president. Haniyeh’s death is a significant setback for Hamas and jeopardises future negotiations with Israel amid escalating tensions in West Asia due to the ongoing war on Gaza.
Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the assassination, though the occupation state has yet to officially comment. The attack has drawn sympathy from West Asian countries, with Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, asserting the assassination would only strengthen Iran-Palestine relations.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity and honour, and will make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly action,” Pezeshkian stated on X.
Mousa Abu Marzook, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death, asserting that the “cowardly” assassination would not go “unanswered”.
This incident follows a significant diplomatic event on 23 July, where Beijing hosted discussions with 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas, Fatah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The meeting, led by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, resulted in an agreement to form an interim national reconciliation government for post-war Gaza, highlighting China’s growing involvement in West Asian politics.
