Pakistan's former premier condemns assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and Israel’s bombing of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.

"I strongly condemn the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and the bombing of Beirut by the government of the war criminal, (Israeli government of) Netanyahu," Khan said in a statement posted to his official X account on Friday.

"Israel's war crimes and blatant violations of international laws and conventions reflect the complete breakdown of any international rule-based order that may have existed," he added.

Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran. While Hamas and Iran blamed Israel for the killing, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its responsibility.

The assassination came a day after Israel claimed the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between the two sides.

The escalation came against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed nearly 39,500 people since last October following an attack by Hamas.