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Palestinian President Strongly Condemns Killing of Hamas Chief

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh (C) flashes victory sign as surrounded by Iranian lawmakers at the Iranian parliament in Tehran, Iran, 30 July 2024 (issued 31 July 2024). EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh (C) flashes victory sign as surrounded by Iranian lawmakers at the Iranian parliament in Tehran, Iran, 30 July 2024 (issued 31 July 2024). EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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Palestinian President Strongly Condemns Killing of Hamas Chief

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh (C) flashes victory sign as surrounded by Iranian lawmakers at the Iranian parliament in Tehran, Iran, 30 July 2024 (issued 31 July 2024). EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh (C) flashes victory sign as surrounded by Iranian lawmakers at the Iranian parliament in Tehran, Iran, 30 July 2024 (issued 31 July 2024). EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned on Wednesday the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, state news agency WAFA reported.
Palestinian national and Islamic factions called for a general strike and mass demonstrations after Haniyeh's killing.
Hamas said Wednesday its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he had been attending the inauguration of the country's new president.
Haniyeh's killing came after Israel on Tuesday struck a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, killing a senior commander of the Iran-backed group it said was responsible for a weekend rocket attack on the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, reported AFP.

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Blinken Says US Not Involved in Killing of Hamas Leader

FILE PHOTO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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Blinken Says US Not Involved in Killing of Hamas Leader

FILE PHOTO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday the United States was not involved in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and reiterated the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza.

"This is something we were not aware of or involved in. It's very hard to speculate," Blinken said in an interview with Channel News Asia during a visit to Singapore, Reuters reported.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed Haniyeh's death, hours after he attended a swearing-in ceremony for the country's new president.

Haniyeh, who leads the Palestinian militant group and is normally based in Qatar, has been the face of Hamas's international diplomacy as the war set off by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 has raged in Gaza.

"I've learned over many years never to speculate on the impact one event may have on something else," Blinken said when asked what impact Haniyeh's death might have on the war.

The assassination, less than 24 hours after Israel claimed to have killed a Hezbollah commander it said was behind a deadly strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, could be a major setback for chances of a ceasefire agreement in the 10-month-old war.

Blinken, who has been in Asia since late last week, said a ceasefire and the release of hostages being held in Gaza was crucial and the United States would do everything to make that happen.

"It's vitally important to hopefully put things on a better path for more enduring peace and more enduring security, so that focus remains."