The ceremony was held at Qatar’s largest mosque, the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Doha. Several hundred were present in the mosque.
Mourners lined up to pray inside the mosque, while others prayed on mats outside where the temperature reached 44 degrees.
Most were wearing scarves with the Palestinian flag and checkered keffiyeh pattern, as well as the message “free Palestine”.
– And symbol
A Palestinian flag draped Haniyeh’s coffin, which was carried into the mosque. The ceremony ended in angry, tactful shouts.
– He was a symbol, a rebel leader. People are angry, says Taher Adel (25), a student from Jordan who lives in Doha.
Turkey and Pakistan announced Friday a day of mourning in honor of Haniyeh, while Hamas has called for a day of “blind rage.”
– Ismail Haniyeh is a symbol for all Muslims, says Qatari Ahmed Mahmoud (48), who participated in the ceremony.
– Iran must follow the incident, and there must be a reaction. Israel must know that we will defend ourselves, he says.
After the ceremony in the mosque, the coffin was transported to Lusail, north of Doha, where Haniyeh was buried.
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the funeral.
Fears increased conflict
Haniyeh had lived for many years in the Qatari capital Doha together with other Hamas political leaders. He was visiting Tehran when he was killed on Wednesday. His bodyguard was also killed.
Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian. Several Israeli politicians have said that Israel is behind the murder, but Israel has not commented officially.
Haniyeh had a leading role in the peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the war in Gaza. The murder of Haniyeh has raised fears of an escalation of the conflict. Several demand retribution for the murder and question whether there is any point in continuing the negotiations.
#Hundreds #bid #farewell #Hamas #leader #Ismail #Haniyeh #Qatar #Friday
2024-08-02 15:57:28
