MUSCAT: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, had a phone call with Khaled Meshaal, Head of Hamas Abroad, during which he expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy on the death of Ismail Haniyeh, Head of Hamas’s Political Bureau.
Sayyid Badr recalled the great role the deceased played in fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people and his relentless defence of their just cause, stressing the Sultanate of Oman's supportive position of the Palestinian cause and the need to carry on with efforts aimed to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that ensures the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Sayyid Badr also stressed that the disgraceful assassination operation undermines the mediation and peace efforts undertaken by active players in the region through which Hamas expressed its readiness to reach a ceasefire agreement.
For his part, Khaled Meshaal expressed his thanks and gratitude for the condolences and sympathy of the Sultanate of Oman, its leadership and people, appreciating its supportive stance towards the Palestinian cause.
Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Ismail Haniyeh was slain in Tehran by a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7 kg, and vowed severe revenge.
Last Wednesday's assassination has drawn fears of direct conflict between Tehran and Israel in a region shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.
Revenge for the killing of the Hamas leader will be "severe and at an appropriate time, place and manner," the Guards' statement added, blaming the "terrorist Zionist regime" of Israel for his death.
Haniyeh was buried on Friday in Qatar, where he was based.
In another development, Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli strike struck a school compound in Gaza City on Saturday, killing at least 10 people.
"There are 10 martyrs and several wounded due to Israeli bombardment on Hamama school," agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said. The Israeli military confirmed the strike.
Bassal said the compound was housing Palestinians displaced from their homes in the ongoing war. - Agencies
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