Senior Hamas official in South Africa condemns leader’s assassination

JOHANNESBURG, July 31 (Xinhua) — Hamas International Relations Director for East, Central and Southern Africa Emad Saber on Wednesday condemned the killing of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh.
“It is clear that the Zionists do not seek peace, and do not care about the safety of their captives. The assassination of our leaders will never weaken or defeat us; it will only increase our steadfastness, our strength, and our unwavering determination to achieve our rights and our liberation,” said Saber, who is based in South Africa.
Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed early Wednesday when their residence was hit in the Iranian capital of Tehran, according to a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, adding the attack was under investigation and the results would be announced later. Israel has no comment on the incident yet.
Saber vowed that Palestinians will continue to fight for their freedom and self-determination. The killing of the Hamas leader will not break the will of the Palestinians to “resist military occupation, apartheid and colonialism,” he said.
Saber also blamed “the Israeli military machine” and its supporters for the onslaught in Gaza and the West Bank.
“Gaza has been reduced to rubble … some communities in the West Bank have been besieged and repeatedly attacked,” he said.
Israel launched its offensive against Hamas in Gaza on Oct. 7 last year, following a surprise attack by Hamas militants in which about 1,200 people in Israel were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
According to Gaza-based health authorities, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 39,445 Palestinians in the coastal enclave and displaced approximately 2 million people. ■