On Thursday, South Africa’s government condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, warning that it could escalate the turmoil in the Middle East.
The attack in Tehran is widely believed to have been executed by Israel, though there has been no official comment from the Israeli government. South Africa, a strong critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, has drawn comparisons between the plight of Palestinians and the experiences of Black South Africans during apartheid—an analogy Israel disputes.
The South African government expressed concern that the killing of Haniyeh and ongoing attacks on Gaza civilians could further heighten regional tensions. It also extended condolences to Haniyeh’s family and called for an investigation into his death.
