Countries around the world gave their reaction to the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Al Jazeera reported.

The Palestinian group governing Gaza and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed his death.

Related Story: Expert Warns Haniyeh Assassination Could Derail Ceasefire Talks, U.S.-Iran ...

Hamas condemned the killing, with senior official Sami Abu Zuhri calling it a severe escalation by Israel intended to undermine the group’s resolve. “Hamas will continue on this path regardless of the sacrifices,” he said.

Israeli Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu praised the act as a necessary step for peace, stating, “Haniyeh’s death makes the world a little better.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed retaliation, describing the act as an assault on Iran’s dignity. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also condemned the killing, promising severe consequences for the perpetrators.

Related Story: For Iran and Hezbollah, Calibrating Response to Israeli Strikes Leaves No Room ...

Hezbollah, sharing in Hamas’s grief, and the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, both condemned the assassination. Abbas labeled it a “cowardly act” and urged unity among Palestinians.

Global reactions varied. The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated no U.S. involvement, while Australia and China called for a ceasefire. Egypt, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Yemen’s Houthi movement also voiced concerns and calls for de-escalation.

Read the world’s reaction at Al Jazeera.