The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday (31/7) condemned the killing of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Teheran, Iran.
Through X, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Indonesia condemns the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Head of the Hamas Political Bureau in Tehran, Iran, on July 31, 2024. This action is a provocative action that can increase the escalation of conflict in the region and damage the ongoing negotiation process.”
Just Met Haniyeh July 12, JK Conveys Condolences
In particular, former Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who had just met with Ismail Haniyeh in Doha on July 12, expressed his condolences for his death.
Recalling the meeting, Jusuf Kalla told VOA that “in that meeting he (Haniyeh) really wanted to achieve peace and a just settlement in Palestine. He also told me that he wanted to resolve the Hamas and Fatah issue first in Beijing, after that he could visit Indonesia with Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas. But Allah has called him to Rahmatullah in Tehran today.”
Kalla hopes that what Haniyeh fought for during his life to achieve peace and justice in Palestine “will still be fought for,” even though he is worried that the situation in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, will worsen after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
MUI Invites to Perform Invisible Prayer
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which called Ismail Haniyeh “the leader of Hamas and also the Palestinian people,” called on all Muslims in Indonesia “to perform occult prayers and pray for the glory and independence of Palestine.”
In a written statement received by VOA some time ago, the Head of International Relations MUI Prof. Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim expressed his appreciation to the Iranian government for immediately carrying out an investigation into the murder, and encouraged an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) “to determine more measurable military steps to effectively stop the killing and extermination carried out by Israel” after murder of Ismail Haniyeh.
“This attack cannot be justified because it has damaged the sovereignty of the country's territory, is contrary to international law… This has made the global atmosphere uncertain because there is tolerance, especially that carried out by Israel to commit crimes such as the murder of Ismail Haniyeh, it must be a concern for all of us, especially the UN, to uphold international law,” he said.
Legal Experts Remind of Article 51 of UN Charter
Despite asking all parties, including the media, to be careful in expressing their views on the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while the investigation is ongoing, international law expert at the University of Indonesia Prof. Dr. Hikmahanto Juwana reminded about Article 51 of the UN Charter if an attack on a country is indeed carried out by a foreign party.
“This is clear unlawful (violating the law). Iran has said it will first study who is behind the attack (who is behind this attack). If it is Israel, of course Iran can strikes back (strike back) based on UN Charter 51.”
Article 51 of the UN Charter affirms “the inherent right of states to defend themselves individually or collectively in the event of an armed attack against a member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.” It also requires any member taking such measures to “immediately report to the Security Council.”
Ismail Haniyeh Killed After Attending the Inauguration of Iran's New President
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Tuesday (30/7). A day later, Haniyeh, along with one of his bodyguards, was killed in an airstrike that Iran and the militant group Hamas said was carried out by Israel. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to retaliate against the attack on the “special guest”.
Israel has not commented on the attack and the accusations against him. But it has vowed to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders over the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people.
The killings, which occurred amid ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the United States and Qatar, are thought to further increase the risk of a larger conflict. Many world leaders and international organizations have called on all parties to exercise restraint and consider the greater losses if the conflict spreads to other areas. (em/lt)
