International Condemnation for Israel's Assassination of Hamas Leader Ahmed Yassin

Strategic Insights -

As the largest public demonstration of support for a Palestinian leader since Yassir Arafat's return to Gaza in 1994, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's funeral procession drew tens of thousands of people into the streets of the Gaza Strip. The wheelchair-bound Hamas leader was struck by Israeli missiles as he left a mosque after dawn prayers, sparking widespread international condemnation for the assassination. Foreign leaders denounced the killing as illegal and likely to undermine peace efforts in the Middle East, with the European Union stating that extra-judicial killings are contrary to international law and undermine the concept of the rule of law.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ariel Sharon, Israeli prime minister, defended the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, describing him as an arch-terrorist who plotted attacks that killed hundreds of Israelis.
  • The US, while expressing "deep concern" over the assassination, emphasized that they believed the Hamas leader had been heavily involved in terrorism.
  • European Union foreign ministers condemned the killing as "unacceptable, unjustified, and very unlikely to achieve its objective."
  • Hamas vowed revenge and all-out war, with leaders calling for the "cutting off of Ariel Sharon's head."
  • The assassination sparked rioting and increased security fears, with markets hitting new lows for the year.

Statistics:

  • Sheikh Yassin was 67 years old at the time of his assassination.
  • Over 100,000 people attended Yassin's funeral procession, the largest public demonstration of support for a Palestinian leader since Yassir Arafat's return to Gaza in 1994.
  • Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during the ensuing rioting in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
  • Markets worldwide hit new lows for the year due to increased global security fears, with Wall Street and European bourses experiencing a significant decline.

Sources:

  • The Times

*.guardian.co.uk

  • Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade official statement
  • Hamas official statement
  • European Union foreign ministers' statement