The United Nations Security Council members condemning the assassination of Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran have called for stepped-up diplomatic efforts to avert a wider Middle East conflict.

Meeting of the 15-member Council was convened in New York at the request of Iran and supported by Russia, Algeria and China.

Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani urged that the Security Council to take immediate steps to hold Israel accountable for this act of aggression.

Deputy Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN Feda Abdelhady, said Israel’s war in Gaza has gravely breached all tenets of international law and flagrantly violated the UN Charter.