Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday urged the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution compelling Israel to cease its attacks in the Gaza Strip and halt its “continued violations” of international law.
During a phone conversation, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi held Israel responsible for the dangerous escalation in the region as a result of “its aggression on the Gaza Strip, violations of international law, illegal practices in the West Bank and political assassinations,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The two ministers stressed the need to work towards calming the situation to prevent a comprehensive regional conflict that would undermine stability in the Middle East, especially after the recent Israeli escalation, said the statement.
Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, was killed early Wednesday when his residence in Tehran was hit, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which accused Israel of carrying out the “terrorist attack” and vowed “a harsh and painful response.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel had prepared the ground for a “harsh punishment” for itself.
The Israeli army has not provided any comment on the incident so far.
The assassination of Haniyeh occurred one day after Israel claimed that a strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed Fouad Shokor, Hezbollah‘s top military commander.
Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
According to Gaza-based health authorities, the Israeli offensive has led to the killing of 39,445 Palestinians in the enclave, while the UN estimated that nearly 2 million people there have been displaced.