Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizes the “imperative” need for a cease-fire in Gaza following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
Blinken delivered these remarks at a forum in Singapore on Wednesday, just hours after Haniyeh attended Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, which was marked by shouts of “Death to America, Israel.”
“I have seen the reports. Nothing is more crucial than achieving a cease-fire. This is essential for steering things onto a better path. We have been actively working from day one to prevent [this war] from escalating,” he stated.
The circumstances surrounding Haniyeh’s death remain unclear, as Iran has yet to release specific details, and the incident is currently under investigation.
HAMAS LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH REPORTEDLY ASSASSINATED
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, shakes hands with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh at the beginning of their meeting at the President’s office in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP)
While Israel has been swiftly accused of the assassination, no entity has officially claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death as of Wednesday morning.
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“The fact that a prominent Hamas leader was killed on Iranian soil is particularly significant for Israel, especially right after he attended the inauguration of the new president of the Islamic Republic,” Lisa Daftari, a Middle East analyst and editor-in-chief at The Foreign Desk, remarked to Fox News.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights the critical need for a cease-fire in Gaza following Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Iran. (Aspen Security Forum via Reuters)
“This sends a strong message that Israel does not distinguish between the Islamic Republic and its affiliates, Hamas and Hezbollah,” she added.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the U.S. aims to de-escalate tensions but will support Israel’s defense in the event of an attack.
Hamas claimed that Haniyeh was killed “in a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president.”
Hamas has proclaimed Ismail Haniyeh a “martyr.”
“Hamas announces to the great Palestinian people, and to the Arab and Islamic nations, and all free people globally, that our brother leader Ismail Haniyeh is a martyr,” the statement read.
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Five years ago, Haniyeh left the Gaza Strip and had been residing in Qatar. Yahya Sinwar, currently leading Hamas in Gaza, is known as the architect behind the October 7 terror attack on Israel and is still alive.
Fox News’ Landon Mion and Reuters contributed to this report
