In Afghanistan And Pakistan, Politicians, Islamic Leaders, And Jihadi Groups Condemn Assassination Of Ismail Haniyeh: The Flag Of Islam Will Fly Over Jerusalem, Jews Must Understand Such Martyrdoms Herald The Liberation Of Al-Aqsa

Islamic religious leaders, politicians, and jihadi organizations in Afghanistan and Pakistan have reacted strongly to the July 31 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, offering condolences, calling it a terrorist act, and accusing Israel and America of violating international law and eliminating their opponents.

Islamic religious leaders from Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) also visited Doha, the capital of Qatar, to personally offer condolences to Haniyeh's family members, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined a funeral prayer in absentia at the Parliament House in Islamabad and addressed lawmakers to formulate a Pakistani position on Palestine.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a jihadi organization that is a branch of the IEA,[1] issued a statement in several languages, including Arabic and Urdu, saying: "We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences, on the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Palestinian Islamic resistance organization Hamas, to the Palestinian nation and his family, and pray to Allah that he places someone great and responsible in his stead. Amen! We pay tribute to the struggle-filled life of Ismail Haniyeh and for the services he rendered to his nation and religion. And we pray to Allah to give him the highest place in the Paradise. Amen!"[2]

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (fourth from left) joins a funeral prayer for Haniyeh at Parliament House, Islamabad

Reactions In Afghanistan

On July 31, within hours of Haniyeh's assassination, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan posted a statement in multiple languages on Justpaste.it, expressing sorrow on "the martyrdom of Dr. Ismail Haniyeh" and saying: "Martyr Ismail Haniyeh was a distinguished, wise, and resolute Palestinian leader who made significant sacrifices in his successful struggle and jihad, fulfilling his commitment in this manner. For a Muslim and a fighter, martyrdom represents a tremendous victory; he has succeeded and left behind a legacy of resistance, selflessness, patience, perseverance, struggle, and practical sacrifice for his followers."[3]

This statement, shared by Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on X, is notable for acknowledging the role of the mujahideen in Palestine and elsewhere. It stated: "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his grieving family, the leadership of Hamas, and the mujahideen who continue to resist the Zionist invaders. We pray that Allah almighty grants martyr Haniyeh eternal paradise and bestows patience and strength upon his family and all the mujahideen. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regards defending Hamas and the sacred land of Palestine as both an Islamic and humanitarian duty. We strongly condemn the atrocities, bombings, and genocide perpetrated by the Zionist regime against Palestinian Muslims as egregious crimes against humanity. We consider the martyrdom of this great figure as a significant loss to the Islamic Ummah and the jihadist cause."[4]

Afghan Taliban commander Abdul Hamid Khorasani, expressing his grief in a video statement, called Haniyeh's death "a conspiracy" and said that Iran and Ayatollah Khamenei are involved in the targeted assassination, stating: "Iran and Israel are two sides of the same coin... Iranians follow a separate religion and align themselves with the Jews."[5]

Anwar-ul-Haq Mujahid, an Afghan Taliban commander and founder of the Tora Bora Jihadi Front during the war against U.S. and NATO forces shared a Pashtu-language statement of condolence. Anwar-ul-Haq Mujahid, who is the son of the late jihadi leader Mawlawi Mohammad Younas Khalis, said Haniyeh was their brother and an important part of the ummah, adding: "The issue of Gaza is the issue of Al-Quds, and it concerns the entire Ummah."[6]

Anas Haqqani, a high-ranking Taliban leader and brother of Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani (the chief of Haqqani Network), urged Muslims not to mourn Haniyeh's death and quoted the Quran: "And do not think of those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision – Al-Imran, 169."[7] Anas Haqqani also said: "Although the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh... is a great loss, it is the lines drawn by the blood of such great men that chart the path to freedom."[8]

Khalid Zadran, the spokesman for Afghan Taliban's Kabul Police Command, said that Haniyeh's martyrdom will lead to the liberation of Jerusalem, tweeting: "The martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh might seem like bad news for Muslims, but history has proven that such sacrifices strengthen the ranks of jihadist movements and bind Muslims together with an unbreakable thread of unity. The Jews must understand that such martyrdoms herald the liberation of Al-Aqsa."[9]

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted the Taliban's official statement condemning the assassination in multiple languages on justpaste.it.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami and a former mujahideen commander, expressed his condolences to Haniyeh's family and described his death as an irreparable loss, stating: "Surely, the martyrdom of this great mujahid personality is an irreparable loss to the Islamic Ummah. May almighty Allah fill his empty place with ideal personalities like him."[10]

Hekmatyar also said: "As long as the earth and sky endure, the flag of Islam will fly over Bait ul-Muqaddas [i.e., Jerusalem]. Some Arab countries, instead of supporting the Palestinian mujahideen, are providing covert and overt support to the Zionists at the behest of the United States. Some are so humiliated that they hope and pray for Netanyahu's victory."[11] 

In a Dari-language tweet, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai called Haniyeh's killing a terrorist act: "This terrorist act, which violates international rules, occurred at a time when efforts were underway to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and had created hope for ending the war and achieving peace in the region. Therefore, it can be considered an action against peace and security in the Middle East."[12]

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the former chief executive of Afghanistan, also condemned Haniyeh's assassination and criticized Israel, stating: "The systematic crimes and oppression against the Palestinian people by the Israeli regime are the main causes of the crisis in the Middle East..."[13] He said: "We condemn and denounce the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, one of the Palestinian political leaders who was recently engaged in ceasefire negotiations and peace efforts and was currently a guest in the Islamic Republic of Iran as a terrorist and criminal act contrary to all international laws and norms."[14] He added: "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to him we shall return. Support for the legitimate cause of the Palestinian people to achieve freedom and self-determination is just and enjoys the backing of the vast majority of people and countries around the world. Without the freedom of Palestine and the recognition of its sovereignty and independent state, achieving peace and security in the Middle East and the world is impossible."[15]

Ata Mohammad Noor, one of the key anti-Taliban leaders, shared a message of condolence that condemned the assassination as a terrorist attack: "This event, which is inherently a horrific and terrorist act, is condemnable and unacceptable in every way. Undoubtedly, Israel, along with committing many human crimes in Palestine, is also involved in this incident."[16] Noor said this "distressing news has deeply affected the Islamic Ummah" and added: "According to religious instructions and national sentiments, dying in defense of the homeland is a dignified death. However, targeting the political leaders of this movement anywhere in the world is a terrorist, horrifying, and suppressive approach."[17]

Afghan Taliban's Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir as well as Naeem Wardak (head of the Taliban's Political Office in Qatar) participated in the funeral of Haniyeh, in Doha. Image courtesy: Jomhornews.com

On July 31, Jamiat-e-Islami Afghanistan, the oldest religious organization in Afghanistan, issued a Dari-language statement condemning the assassination and calling it violation of Iran's territorial integrity. It stated: "This terrorist act is against international norms and serves to normalize the violation of the countries' territorial integrity and disrupt peaceful efforts. This criminal attack once again demonstrated that the Israeli regime is a fundamental factor in regional instability and escalating tensions, showing no regard for global peace and security. Unfortunately, turning a blind eye to the oppression of Palestinians has emboldened Israel to act more ruthlessly in its repression and destabilization efforts."[18]

Mohammad Mohaqiq, the Afghan Shi'ite Hazara politician, expressed condolences over the killing of Haniyeh, stating: "[It] is a terrorist act, a violation of international law and a violation of the national sovereignty of an important country in the region. I condemn this barbaric act and express my condolences for the martyrdom of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh to the resistant people of Palestine and his respected family, especially their eldest son Abd al-Salam. I pray for patience and a great reward. Peace be upon him and upon him who fought with him and upon all the servants of Allah."[19]

Nasrullah Balouch, the spokesperson of anti-Iran Ansar Al-Furqan organization, blamed the Iranian government for betraying the Sunni world and said that Rawafidh, a pejorative for Shi'ites, cannot be trusted: "Every time trust was placed in the Rawafidh and the followers of the Safavids, the poisoned sword of betrayal tore apart the body of the Ummah. Yesterday, it was the betrayal of the Ottoman Empire by Ismail Safavi, and today, it is the betrayal of Hamas and the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh."[20]

Reactions In Pakistan

In Pakistan, a funeral prayer in absentia was organized in several towns and cities, and at the Parliament House in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other lawmakers joined the prayer. He also declared August 2 a National Day of Mourning in Pakistan. Addressing a gathering of lawmakers at the Parliament House, Shehbaz Sharif condemned Haniyeh's killing "as a blatant disregard for international law" and said: "I have invited you here [to discuss] what position should be adopted about these humanity-killing incidents as political parties, as the government of Pakistan, and as Pakistanis."[21]

"For the past nine months, there has been a bloodbath in Palestine, with over 40,000 Palestinians, including children, martyred," Shehbaz Sharif said, adding: "The International Court of Justice gave a decision which fully condemned [the killings of Palestinians] and described it as a genocide, but despite the decision under international laws, Israel's hand could not be stopped. Netanyahu is openly massacring people and the Israeli military is waging destruction. This humanity-breaking incident is a big challenge for the developed nations and a big tragedy as to how to talk about it."[22]

According to a media report, lawmakers from all political parties who were present at the event at the Parliament House said: "Israel is violating UN resolutions, International Court of Justice rulings, and international law through its ongoing genocide and state brutality in Palestine, while the international community remains a silent spectator."[23]

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, along with a delegation, met with Hamas leader Dr. Khalid Meshaal in Doha to offer condolences. Maulana Fazlur Rehman recited a prayer for the martyrs of Gaza, and said that the "blood of Shaheed Ismail Haniyeh will not go in vain." (Image courtesy: X.com)

On August 2, the National Assembly of Pakistan, adopted a resolution urging the United Nations "to take effective measures to impose its call for a ceasefire in Gaza in order to stop the genocidal war being waged against Palestinian people."[24] The resolution added that Haniyeh's killing has "added to the angst and grief, and such incidents are seen as deliberate conspiracies to sabotage efforts to stop the ongoing oppression and brutality against Palestinians and to establish peace in the region..."[25]

The speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, expressed sorrow over Haniyeh's "martyrdom," saying it is "a disgraceful example of brutality and aggression, and a blatant violation of international law and values. The sacrifices of Haniyeh and his family for Palestine's struggle for freedom are unforgettable."[26] The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, described Haniyeh's killing on Iranian soil "as a heinous act" and dubbed "the Israeli action in Iran as a monstrous step."[27]

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, a leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, said that following the martyrdom of Haniyeh, tensions and conflict would escalate further. He said: "The killing of a Mujahid is a severe blow to the Palestinian struggle for freedom and represents a significant failure of Iranian security and intelligence agencies."[28] On August 3, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Barrister Gauhar said: "As a nation, we have not been able to respond appropriately to Israel and that the Muslim Ummah has not united on a single point against Israeli atrocities. If this situation continues, India will soon do in Kashmir what Israel is doing in [Palestine]."[29]

Zahid Bakhtawari, the chairman of Tehreek-e-Difa-e-Pakistan ("Movement for the Defense of Pakistan"), said that Haniyeh's "martyrdom" was a significant loss for the Ummah.[30] The President of the Pakistan Stability Party and Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that "the martyrdom of the advocate of the Palestinian struggle for freedom is extremely sorrowful." The leaders of the Pakistan Shariat Council declared the Haniyeh death "a great tragedy for the entire Muslim world," emphasizing that "the great sacrifices of Palestinians in the path of truth will not be in vain."[31]

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who was prime minister of Pakistan from 2012 to 2013, said: "This is a war between the powerful and the weak. Israel's allies are powerful, but the Palestinians are weak. Israel, blinded by the intoxication of power, has not just killed Ismail Haniyeh but has shredded global ethics and moral traditions."[32]

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issued a statement on the "martyrdom" of Haniyeh

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, said: "The martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is an irreparable loss, and no amount of condemnation is sufficient. However, Israel and its allies will have to pay the price for their oppression."[33] He added: "Martyrdom is not the end of a Muslim's life but the beginning of a new life filled with comfort. In contrast, Israel and its allies will have to pay the price for their oppression. The martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh is an irreparable loss, depriving the Muslims of Palestine of a compassionate leader. Israel's actions have plunged the entire region into a new trial, and it is clear that the war will no longer be confined to Gaza, but a new alignment is taking shape."[34]

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the Jamata-e-Islami emir, also traveled to Doha where he attended the funeral of Haniyeh in Doha and expressed condolences to Haniyeh's family and Hamas leadership. He was accompanied by Asif Luqman Qazi, the director of Jamaat-e-Islami's Department of Foreign Affairs. In Doha, Rehman told the Hamas leadership: "Jamaat-e-Islami fully supports Hamas's resistance to liberate Palestine" and Muslim rulers must "firmly stand against Israeli brutality, reflecting the sentiments of the Ummah."[35] In the Qatari capital, the Jamaat-e-Islami leader condemned the support of "Israeli aggression and terrorism by the United States and some Western countries."[36]

Siraj-ul-Haq, the former emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, also expressed his views on Haniyeh's assassination, saying: "Hamas did not cease its struggle even for a moment. I had a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh. In this meeting, he had said that if one person will be a martyr, another will be ready... 31 persons of my family have become martyrs till now. The world of Islam should give a full-blown reply to this action."[37]

According to an August 3 report in the Urdu daily Roznama Jasarat, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami for Pakistan-controlled Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, drew parallels with historical battles of Islam, saying: "The leaders of Hamas and the Palestinian people have created timeless stories of sacrifice reminiscent of early Islamic history."[38] He said that "India and Israel are swiftly heading toward their demise, and if the rulers of Islamic countries stop being tools of outsiders, these issues can be resolved quickly."[39] Dr. Mushtaq Khan said that "Ismail Haniyeh's blood will not go in vain," adding that "the entire Kashmiri nation stands with the people of Palestine and called on Islamic rulers to support the liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque instead of being agents of the West."[40]

On August 2, Jamaat-e-Islami offered funeral prayers in absentia for Haniyeh at the group's provincial headquarters Al-Markaz Al-Islami in Peshawar, which is the capital of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Speaking on the occasion, Professor Ibrahim Khan, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said: "We do not expect any good from Israel. So, we do not complain to Israel. However, it is necessary to say that Israel is a terrorist state that has no legal basis. Israel exists on the face of the earth as an illegitimate state. It enjoys the backing of America and Israel is committing all crimes with its support."[41]

"We condemn the Muslim rulers and regret that no Muslim ruler or military general has the courage to come to the support of the oppressed Palestinians and wage a war against the oppressor Jews," Professor Ibrahim Khan said, adding, "May Allah, in the lieu of the blood of the martyrs destroy Israel and grant freedom to the land of Palestine."[42]

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, meets with Hamas leaders and Haniyeh's family members in Doha, Qatar.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the emir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) who has been leading anti-Israel protests regularly in different Pakistani cities and had even travelled to Doha where he met with Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders. Rehman expressed grief and shock over the assassination of Haniyeh, saying that "Ismail Haniyeh's martyrdom will reinvigorate the cause of Palestinian liberation" and added: "We will not withdraw from the cause of the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestine at any cost. JUI-F and the entirety of the Pakistani nation stands with the Palestinians in their struggle for freedom."[43]

According to a July 31 report in the Urdu daily Roznama Jang, a key leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, addressed a press conference where he accused America and Israel of eliminating their opponents. "The United States and Israel make efforts to systematically eliminate their opponents," he said, adding: "Ismail Haniyeh went to Iran on an invitation. Should this be considered a failure of Iran's security forces? Apparently, Israel has tried to expand the war."[44]

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, who is also a member of parliament, added: "The Muslim world has so far been content with mere rhetoric and has taken no practical steps. Palestine is fighting its war alone. If the Muslim world were to halt oil supplies for just two days, the U.S. and Israel would be forced to yield."[45]

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad, Islamic cleric Mufti Gulzar Ahmed Naeemi, the chairman of the Mili Yakjehti Council of Pakistan, accused Israel of killing Islamic "heroes," stating: "The enemy is systematically targeting our heroes."[46] Syed Nasir Shirazi, Secretary General of the Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen, a Shi'ite religious organization of Pakistan, said that the targeting of Haniyeh inside Iran was a conspiracy.[47] Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi urged the United Nations and human rights organizations to take action against the brutalities in Palestine.[48]

Following are images from Afghanistan and Pakistan and Qatar relating to the events after Haniyeh's assassination:

Abdullah, a key leader of the radical Islamist group Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) visited Doha and offered condolences on the killing of Haniyeh. Image courtesy: X.com)

A screenshot of a video shared by @khurasany01 on August 3, 2024. In this video, Anas Haqqani, a senior Afghan Taliban commander, met with Khalid Mashal in Doha on the occasion of Haniyeh's funeral. Image courtesy: X.com

A fatiha ceremony held in Kabul on August 4, 2024, to pray for Haniyeh and commemorate his service to the Palestinian cause. Image courtesy: X.com

Sheikh Fazlullah Noori, a madrassa teacher, addresses a fatiha ceremony in Kabul to eulogize Haniyeh. Image courtesy: X.com

A protest against Haniyeh's killing and "Israeli brutality" that Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, called for in front of the Karachi Press Club. Image courtesy: X.com

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the emir of Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan, a led funeral prayer for Haniyeh in Rawalpindi city, Pakistan. Image courtesy: Dawn.com)

* Mantasha Ansari is a Research Assistant at MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project.