Hamas Leader Haniyeh Dies, Russia: Completely Unacceptable Political Murder

Ismail Haniyeh/PHOTO DOK via Wikimedia Commons/council.gov.ru

JAKARTA - Russia calls the assassination of political leader Hamas Ismail Haniyeh an "unacceptable political assassination".

"This is a truly unacceptable political assassination, and this will lead to further tensions," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

Bogdanov said the killings would also have a negative impact on ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.

Russia, which has ties to Arab countries, Iran and Hamas and Israel, often condemns violence in the region and accuses the United States of ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, Palestinian militant group Hamas said the group's senior leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in the attack after participating in the inauguration of the Iranian President.

"The Hamas Islamic Resistance Movement mourns the martyrdom of the children of the Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims, as well as all the independent people in the world," the group said in a statement, reported Mehr.

"Furthermore announced, Haniyeh was martyred in Tehran after participating in the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president due to the dangerous Zionist attack on his residence," the group continued.