The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said he had met in recent days with officials from Qatar, Egypt and Lebanon. He highlighted the risk of a serious escalation in the region.
The meeting came after Israel killed senior Hezbollah official Fouad Shukr in an attack on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“It is imperative that we act decisively and collectively to address the immediate threat and lay the foundation for lasting peace,” Wennesland said, as reported by Aljazeera, Friday (2/8).
He added that his party would continue to cooperate with all relevant parties to support current mediation efforts that seek to prevent the Gaza war from spreading into a regional war.
Meanwhile, Haniyeh’s remains were buried at the Lusail cemetery, north of the Qatari capital, Doha, on Friday (2/8). Thousands of mourners paid their last respects to the Palestinian figure who was killed by Israel.
They performed funeral prayers at Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, which is the largest mosque in the gas-rich country. After that, they also escorted Haniyeh’s body to his final resting place, in the Lusail royal burial complex in the north of Doha.
Also read: Thousands of People Pay Their Last Respects to Haniyeh
Security was very tight considering the presence of dozens of state officials from all over the world, especially from Islamic countries. In addition, leaders of Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Islamic Jihad, as well as Haniyeh’s family also witnessed it.
Haniyeh lives in Doha along with other members of Hamas’ political office.
Turkey and Pakistan declared a day of mourning on Friday (August 2) in honor of Haniyeh and their solidarity with the Palestinian people, while Hamas has called for a day of fiery anger to coincide with the funeral.
Also read: Ismail Haniyeh Called Dead as a result of a Bomb That Was Stored Long
“Arab and Islamic leaders, as well as representatives of other Palestinian factions and members of society, will attend the funeral of our leader,” Hamas said, as quoted by Mehr News, Friday (2/8).
Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed by Tel Aviv in a pre-dawn attack on their accommodation in Tehran early Wednesday. He had traveled to Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.
A public funeral service for Haniyeh was held in Tehran on Thursday, with many mourners paying their last respects. Haniyeh’s coffin arrived in Doha on Thursday afternoon, Qatar-based Al Jazeera reported, broadcasting images of a convoy, including vehicles of internal security forces, traveling along Doha’s coastal road. (I-2)
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