Brazil condemns assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran

In a statement released on Wednesday, Brazil criticized the attack as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter.

“Brazil repudiates the flagrant disrespect for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in clear violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, and reaffirms that acts of violence, under any motivation, do not contribute to the pursuit of lasting stability and peace in the Middle East,” the statement read.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin attended President Pezeshkian’s inauguration and was seated near Haniyeh during the ceremony. Brazil’s statement did not explicitly mention Israel but noted that the assassination undermines efforts for a political solution to the Gaza conflict, impacting ceasefire negotiations and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Haniyeh, a key figure in these negotiations, was targeted in what Hamas described as a “treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran.”

Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for the assassination, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel “will exact a heavy price from any aggression against us on any front,” without directly referring to Iran or Haniyeh’s death. The assassination follows an Israeli strike on Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah member, earlier the same day.

In response to the assassination, Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), set to take place this afternoon under Russia’s presidency. Brazil has called on all parties to comply with the UN resolution for a ceasefire approved by the Security Council in June, urging both Israel and Hamas to implement it without preconditions.

Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration, Brazil has taken a critical stance towards Israel. Earlier this year, Brazil joined other countries in asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to declare Israel’s occupation of Palestine illegal and supported South Africa’s genocide charges against Israel at the ICJ. (ILKHA)