Protests Erupt in Response to Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

Protests Erupt Following Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

In a dramatic response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators flooded the streets of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. The crowd brandished numerous green Hamas flags and chanted slogans calling for support of the al-Qassem Brigade, the militant group’s military wing, reflecting their outrage and desire for solidarity in the wake of Haniyeh’s death.

Haniyeh was killed in a strike in Iran shortly after attending the inauguration of the country’s new president. Both Tehran and Hamas confirmed the news early Wednesday. While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination, suspicion quickly shifted towards Israel. The Israeli government has openly declared its intention to target Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in retaliation for the group’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The protests in Ramallah were mirrored by similar demonstrations in Iran’s capital, Tehran, where hundreds of hard-line government supporters gathered outside the University of Tehran. They condemned the predawn assassination, chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” showcasing their anger and solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

In the Palestinian refugee camp al-Bass, located in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, demonstrators took to the streets, vocally expressing their support for Hamas. Many carried images of Haniyeh alongside those of Hamas’s spiritual leader, Ahmed Yassin, who was assassinated in an Israeli helicopter strike in 2004 while in a wheelchair.

An Iranian woman, holding a Palestinian flag, participated in the protest at Felestin (Palestine) Square in Tehran, symbolizing unity against the backdrop of Haniyeh’s killing. Jihad Taha, a spokesperson for Hamas, addressed the crowd, which was adorned in traditional keffiyehs. He asserted that “the Zionist occupation” would not succeed in breaking the resolve of the Palestinian people. Taha declared, “We are certain today that the language of treachery and betrayal adopted by the Zionist occupation will ultimately lead to failure,” emphasizing that Israel’s goals would not succeed amid the ongoing aggression in Gaza.

Further east, in Karachi, Pakistan, two separate protests unfolded as part of a coordinated effort to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. At an event organized by the religious political party Jamaat e Islami, hundreds of protesters held up posters featuring Haniyeh, chanting, “Muslims will prevail.” Munim Zafar, the chief of Jamaat e Islami in Karachi, articulated that “the Palestinians’ struggle will be amplified because their movement does not rely solely on a few individuals.”

Another protest was organized by the Palestine Foundation Pakistan, which included a mass prayer for Haniyeh, followed by chants proclaiming, “The war will end with Israel’s destruction.” These demonstrations come at a time when international mediators are vigorously working to forge an agreement for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, aiming to bring an end to the devastating conflict in Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages. Intense diplomatic efforts are underway to alleviate the rising tensions between the two sides after months of relentless cross-border fighting.