Ankara condemns assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish government officials issued strong condemnations following the assasination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s Political Bureu, in Tehran, Iran.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his “outrage” and “denounced the treacherous assassination” on the social media platform X on July 31, calling it “a delibarate attempt to undermine the Palestinian cause.”

“This assassination is a vile act aimed at thwarting the Palestinian cause, demoralizing the Gaza resistance, and intimidating our Palestinian brothers. Just as with the previous heinous attacks on Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, and numerous other Gazan political figures, the goal behind Haniyeh’s assassination is clear; however, Zionist barbarism will once again fail to achieve its goals. With the united stance of the Islamic world and the alliance of humanity, the oppression and genocide in Gaza, as well as the terror spread by Israel in our region, will surely end, bringing peace to our region and the world,” Erdoğan stated.

Foreign Ministry emphasizes broader implications

The assassination has prompted widespread condemnation across Turkish political circles. The Foreign Ministry’s criticism was notably directed at the Netanyahu government, rather than the state of Israel, marking a significant diplomatic stance.

In a written statement on July 31, The Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasized the broader implications for regional stability:

“We condemn the vile assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. This attack starkly reveals that the Netanyahu government has no intention of achieving peace. The assassination also aims to escalate the war in Gaza to a regional level. Should the international community fail to take action to restrain Israel, our region will face much larger conflicts. Turkey will continue to support the rightful cause of the Palestinian people.”

Foreign Minister Fidan shared a photo from his last meeting with Haniyeh on his “X” account, expressing “his sorrow” over the killing of the Hamas leader.

“Ismail Haniyeh was a symbol of the glorious Palestinian resistance,” he posted, adding “His cherished memory will live on in the just cause of the Palestinian people. May Allah have mercy on him, and may his resting place be in paradise.”

First time state official spoke of “the destruction of Israel”

While the harsh reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was notably directed not at the state of Israel but at the “Netanyahu government,” it was the first time a Turkish state official had spoken of “the destruction of Israel.”

Cemil Ertem, one of President Tayyip Erdoğan’s economic advisors, stated on his “X” account that Haniyeh’s “martyrdom will also contribute to the destruction of Israel.”

On July 28, President Erdoğan had stirred a debate by suggesting that Türkiye could respond to Israel as “it did in Libya and Karabakh.”

Top officials, including Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, have issued statements denouncing the killing.

Additionally, Erdoğan’s ruling AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik condemned the assassination, labeling it a Zionist act:

“We condemn the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Haniyeh was martyred while fighting for the Palestinian people and homeland. This assassination once again demonstrates that the Netanyahu government operates as a network of genocide and massacre. The rightful cause of our brotherly Palestinian people will inevitably triumph over these killers.”