Saudi Arabia condemns Haniyeh’s killing as “blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty”

Days after Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed, Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s attack in Tehran as “a blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty.” 

Haniyeh was in Tehran for the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new president when a short-range projectile struck his building where he was staying, according to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The 52-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a joint statement holding “Israel, the illegal occupying power, fully responsible for this heinous attack.”

Iran and Palestine summoned an OIC session in Jeddah after the recent developments in the Middle East.

During the meeting on Wednesday, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Khuraiji condemned the attack as a threat to regional peace and stability. 

He rejected “interference in the sovereignty and internal affairs of any country” and criticized Israel for targeting Palestinian civilians, disregarding international laws, and worsening the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories.

Walid al-Khuraiji  also called for an end to the Israeli assault on Gaza and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for an independent Palestinian state under international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Hamas announced on Tuesday that Yahya Sinwar has been appointed as the new head of its political bureau, after the assassination of former chief Ismail Haniyeh on July 31.

Before taking on this role, Yahya Sinwar was the leader of Hamas in Gaza, and Israel holds him responsible for the October 7 attacks in the Palestinian enclave, which resulted in the deaths of 1,100 people and the taking of over 200 hostages.