A PRESS STATEMENT

 

Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have gone before him.
If he were to die or to be killed, would you regress into disbelief?
Those who do so will not harm Allah whatsoever. And Allah will reward those who are grateful. (Qur’an 3:144)

 

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa condemns the cowardly act of assassination of the leader of the resistance movement in Palestine, Ismail Haniyeh. This political murder in Tehran, early today, represents an extension of the War in Gaza, and the risk of an escalation of the conflict in the wider region.

 

Shaheed Ismail Haniyeh rose to prominence following Zionist assassination of two Palestinian leaders, namely Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and Dr Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, who were murdered within 26 days of each other, in 2004. In 2006, Shaheed Ismail Haniyeh became a popularly-elected leader, through a Palestinian legislative election, internationally acclaimed as free and fair.

 

The assassination of the Hamas leader comes against a backdrop of more than 39,000 Palestinian deaths and a total devastation of the Gaza Strip, in what is now widely being regarded as a genocide. In this on-going war of extermination, the martyred leader, lost at least eighty-nine members of his extended family, including three sons and four grandchildren, killed in a targeted attack on 10th April. Not setting himself apart from the humanitarian toll and suffering, on this occasion the leader, a hafidh-al-Qur‘an, was quoted as saying: “All our people and all the families of Gaza residents have paid a heavy price with the blood of their children, and I am one of them.”

 

It is the modus operandi of the Zionists to target and murder Palestinian leaders, in order to stymie any prospects of a political settlement. This assassination is therefore an expression of Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration’s intent not to agree to any lasting ceasefire, by the killing of a negotiating partner widely considered as pragmatic, therefore amenable to a truce on fair terms. However, contrary to what the forces behind this heinous act would expect, Palestinians will once again rally and mourn, but also unite and renew their resolve to struggle until liberation.

 

We extend our condolences to the family of Shaheed Ismail Haniyeh, his colleagues and the resistance movement in Palestine. We pray that the blood of the martyrs, waters the seed of liberation, and that all those who have fallen gain acceptance in the Courtyard of Allah, where deeds of their of ultimate sacrifice would not be in vain.

 

It is our responsibility to recommit, and to continue our efforts of solidarity with the people of Palestine, whose century-long struggle and resistance has reached a very critical juncture. Liberation of Palestine is our own liberation and the hegemonic forces that have a stranglehold over Palestine do not relent except through resistance.

 

Released by:

 

The Executive Committee
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa

 

24 Muharram 1446 / 31 July 2024