Murder of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh cannot be tolerated: Indonesia

Jakarta, August 1 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asserted that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas, committed by Israel constitutes an act of violence that cannot be tolerated.

"This is an act of violence, a murder that cannot be tolerated. Moreover, this happened in the territory of Iran," he remarked after attending the opening of the 2024 Indonesian Digital Finance Economic Festival (FEKDI) and Indonesia Creative Work (KKI) exhibition in Jakarta on Thursday.

The president then said he believes the whole world is against such an act of violence.

"I think everyone, including Indonesia, strongly condemns that violent and murderous conduct," he pointed out.

Hamas earlier confirmed the martyrdom of Haniyeh following an attack launched by Israel on his residence in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday (July 31).

"The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas expresses condolences for the death of a son of the great Palestinian people, Ismail Haniyeh," the organization noted on Telegram.

According to Hamas, Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital to attend the inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian as the new president of Iran.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas labeled the assassination as a "cowardly and dangerous" act from Israel.

Countries around the globe, including Indonesia, were quick to denounce the tragedy.

"It (the killing) constitutes a provocation that could escalate conflicts in the region and derail the ongoing negotiation," the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated on a social media post on Wednesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Haniyeh's assassination was a "despicable attempt to undermine the Palestinian cause."

Meanwhile, Russia's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that the attack was unacceptable and could lead to further escalation.