ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s upper house of parliament on Monday passed a resolution expressing the “profoundest grief and sorrow” on the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

Wednesday’s assassination has aroused fears of direct conflict between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel’s war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.

“The resolution, moved by Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, also condemned the human rights violations and unprovoked bombing of Israel in Beirut and the recent killing of 250 innocent civilians in Palestine in addition to thousands of others,” Radio Pakistan reported. 

“It said Israel is morphing into an international criminal and terrorist entity that is attacking Muslim Nations with impunity.”

The Senate recommended that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and all Muslim countries unite to counter and restrain Israeli’s “terrorist agenda and ensure lifting of siege of Gaza to provide immediate assistance to the starving and injured civilians and halting of bombing at Gaza on immediate basis.”

Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president. The Hamas political leader was buried on Friday in Qatar, where he was based.

The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that the explosion which killed Haniyeh was a bomb that was covertly smuggled into the guesthouse where he was staying in Tehran two months ago.

Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.