Thousands of Iranians attend Hamas leader’s funeral chanting ‘Death to Israel’

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Thursday, led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who led the funeral service.

Iran’s top official presided over prayers in the courtyard of Tehran University before the coffins of Haniyeh and his bodyguard, identified as Wasim Abu Shaaban, who were killed early Wednesday in an attack attributed to Israel against their residence in the Iranian capital.

The ceremony was also attended by Iranian state and military officials, including President Masud Pezeshkian, as well as officials from the so-called Axis of Resistance, an informal anti-Israeli alliance led by Tehran.

After performing the funeral prayer, Iran’s supreme leader bid farewell to Haniyeh and expressed his solidarity with his children present at the funeral.

Thousands of people who had gathered near the university campus later accompanied the coffin of the Hamas leader and his escort to Tehran’s iconic Azadi (Freedom) Square.

Carrying the flags of Iran, Palestine and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the demonstrators chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to the United States,” accusing the United States of being complicit in “Israeli crimes.”

“The assassination of Haniyeh is the straw that broke the camel’s back. We will take revenge for this and other Israeli crimes,” Said, 46, told EFE, holding a photo of the Palestinian leader.

The mechanical engineer, dressed in black, called for “ending the usurping regime of Israel” and said it was necessary to “stop the unconditional support of the United States” for Tel Aviv.

Following confirmation of Haniyeh’s death, Iran’s supreme leader threatened to give Israel a direct response.

“With this act, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime (Israel) has prepared the ground for harsh punishment and we consider it our duty to avenge the murder on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khamenei said.

As planned, the remains of Haniyeh and his escort will be transferred this afternoon to Doha, Qatar, where he spent the last years of his life in exile.

Source: EFE