Lamola calls for probe into Hamas leader Haniyeh's assassination

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola is calling for a thorough investigation into the assassination of Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh. 

Haniyeh's funeral is being held in the Iranian capital of Tehran following his assassination while on a visit early on Wednesday. 

Lamola has expressed condolences to Haniyeh's family and the people of Palestine, saying his killing has violated international law.

Former International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor drew considerable backlash late last year after revealing she’d taken a phone call from Haniyeh soon after the 7 October attack on Israel to assist with humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

Her successor, Lamola, said he was concerned that Haniyeh's death would exacerbate an already tense situation in the Middle East region. 

Lamola said that Haniyeh's death was also likely to stall negotiations to bring an end to the nine-month conflict in Gaza.

In a statement on Thursday, Lamola appealed for restraint from acts that would escalate tensions. 

He said that those behind Haniyeh's killing must be brought to book. 

Haniyeh is one of three Hamas leaders for whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for war crimes in May, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The minister said that the international community must do more to end the genocide and Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory. 

Haniyeh's body is to be transported from Iran to Qatar for burial on Thursday afternoon.