Palestinian PRESIDENT Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of killing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to prolong its war in Gaza.
“The killing is an act of cowardice and a dangerous development in Israeli politics,” Abbas said in an interview published by the Russian state news agency RIA on Tuesday (6/8).
“There is no doubt that the aim of Haniyeh’s assassination is to prolong the war and widen its scope,” he said. “This will have a negative impact on the ongoing negotiations to end the aggression and withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza,” he added.
Abbas said he would discuss the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The agency cited diplomatic sources as saying Abbas would be in the Russian capital from August 12 to 14.
“The main purpose of our visit is to hold consultations and exchange views on current events in the Palestinian and international arenas, coordinate positions and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas,” RIA quoted Abbas as saying.
He is also expected to be in Türkiye from August 14 to 15.
Also read: Joe Biden’s comments on Ismail Haniyeh’s murder
Haniyeh was killed in the Iranian capital, Tehran, last week in an attack that raised threats of revenge against Israel and sparked fears that the conflict in Gaza would turn into a wider Middle East war.
Haniyeh has been the face of Hamas’ international diplomacy since the war began on October 7 last year and has taken part in internationally brokered efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
Iran, which backs Hamas in its conflict with Israel in Gaza, blamed Israel for the killing and promised punishment in retaliation. Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.
Also read: Ismail Haniyeh Killed, Pakistan: Israel Tramples on International Law
Russia, which has established close ties with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Arab leaders, condemned Haniyeh’s killing and called on all parties to refrain from further destabilization in the Middle East.
They have also repeatedly scolded Western countries for ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
Russia-Iran talks
On Monday (5/8), Sergei Shoigu held talks in Tehran with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian who said he was determined to expand ties with Russia.
Also read: Gaza Ceasefire Threatened by Ismail Haniyeh’s Death
“Russia is one of the countries that supported the Iranian nation during difficult times,” Pezeshkian told Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s security council, Iranian state media reported.
Meanwhile, President Trump said that the common position between Iran and Russia in promoting a multipolar world would certainly lead to greater global security and peace.
In Washington, DC, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller referred to Shoigu’s talks in Tehran saying that the US does not expect Russia to play a productive role in defusing tensions in the Middle East.
Miller said Washington has sent a message through its diplomatic engagements encouraging countries to tell Iran that escalation in the Middle East is not in Tehran’s interests. Diplomatic pressure is increasing to prevent escalation between Iran and Israel. (Aljazeera/Z-2)
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