KUALA LUMPUR: Cabinet members were shocked when they found out during a meeting that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh had been assassinated.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim conveyed this to Hamas official Dr Basem Naim in a phone call.
"The entire cabinet members were shocked. This madness of the Israeli Zionist regime, going after people in their bedrooms and torturing people and thinking that they can end this war and aggression in this manner."
Basem, a close friend of Haniyeh and a long-time fighter for Palestinian freedom, said Haniyeh's death was a profound loss.
"This is a very, very big loss, not only for the Palestinian people, but for the whole ummah and for all free people."
Ismail was assassinated early today in Teheran after he attended a swearing-in ceremony for the Iranian president.
Basem believed it was vital to continue Haniyeh's struggle.
"The most important thing is to continue on the path of brother Ismail Haniyeh until we, the Palestinian people, achieve the national goals of freedom and dignity."
Basem said Israel has not only threatened and acted against Palestinian interests, it has also targeted Syria, Iraq and Iran.
Anwar, who met Haniyeh during a working trip to Doha in May, said the Hamas leader was key to securing a path towards peace in Gaza.
"Just a few days back, the latest information from our brothers in Turkiye. Clearly, brother Almarhum Ismail Haniyeh has been one of the pillars in the struggle in wanting a peaceful resolution to defend the rights of the Palestinian people."
Anwar expressed his condolences to Basem and Haniyeh's family.
"Again Dr Basem, to all the family members and colleagues, please stay strong. May Allah protect us," he said, ending the call with a recitation of a Quranic verse from chapter As-Saf.
The verse is: "He will also give you another favour that you long for: help from Allah and an imminent victory. So give good news O Prophet to the believers."
In social media posts, Anwar condemned the assassination as "a murder of the most heinous kind".
Earlier today, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet condemned the killing of Haniyeh and urged for an immediate investigation.
The Foreign Ministry said it unequivocally denounced such acts of violence and called for all peace-loving nations to do the same.