On Friday, thousands gathered at a mosque in Qatar for the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The mastermind of the October 7 massacre, the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, was killed during a visit to the Iranian capital Tehran.
Guests at the funeral ceremony for the top terrorist prayed in the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, the largest mosque in the Gulf emirate, and outdoors in temperatures of 44 degrees. Among the mourners were Khaled Meshal, a possible successor to Haniyeh, other high-ranking Hamas officials and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as well as Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, were also present.
Former and possibly future Hamas leader Khaled Meshal gave a speech at HaniyehPhoto: picture alliance / Anadolu
Haniyeh’s coffin, draped in the Palestinian flag, was carried through the mosque, accompanied by the coffin of his bodyguard, Wasim Abu Shaaban, who was killed in the same attack.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters: “Our message to the occupation (Israel, ed.) today is that you are sinking deep into the mud and your end is closer than ever. Haniyeh’s blood will change all equations.” Khalil Al-Hayya, another possible successor, told Haniyeh’s family: “We are sure that his blood will bring victory, dignity and liberation.”
In the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, thousands prayed for the killed Hamas leaderPhoto: picture alliance / Anadolu
The killing of Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar, has fuelled fears of an escalation of the war. Turkey and Pakistan declared a day of mourning for Haniyeh, while Hamas terrorists declared a “day of rage”.
Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in Tehran on Wednesday night, where Haniyeh was attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel has not commented directly on the attack, but has been accused by Hamas, Iran and others. According to an investigation by the New York Times, the Mossad planted the bomb. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed revenge. and
