Mourners Honor Slain Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha Amid Rising Tensions

Mourners Gather to Honor Slain Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha

In a poignant display of grief, mourners congregated in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Friday to participate in the funeral prayers for Ismail Haniyeh, the slain leader of Hamas. This gathering took place against a backdrop of escalating tensions, with Iran and its regional allies pledging to retaliate against Israel for Haniyeh’s death.

As the bodies of Haniyeh and his bodyguard lay in coffins adorned with Palestinian flags, men knelt in solemn prayer. Among those paying their respects were prominent figures from Hamas’s Qatar-based political office, including two potential successors to Haniyeh: Khalil al-Hayya, a senior official within Hamas, and Khaled Mashaal, a former chief of the organization and a close aide to Haniyeh. The head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad was also in attendance, underscoring the significance of the occasion.

During the funeral, al-Hayya expressed to Haniyeh’s family that their loss was shared by many, stating that Haniyeh was “no better or dearer” than the innocent children who have lost their lives in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the tragic deaths of approximately 39,480 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

US Urges Israel to Pursue Ceasefire

In the aftermath of Haniyeh’s killing, U.S. President Joe Biden voiced his deep concerns regarding the potential escalation of violence in the Middle East. He emphasized that the assassination of Haniyeh has complicated efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Biden remarked, “We have the basis for a ceasefire. He should move on it and they should move on it now,” referring to his recent discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, on the other hand, has reiterated Israel’s commitment to achieving nothing less than “total victory” over Hamas. He indicated that while Israel aims for a ceasefire, the government is simultaneously working to ensure its objectives are met.

Hezbollah Chief Declares New Phase of Conflict

In a related development, the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, warned on Thursday that the conflict with Israel has entered a new and more intense phase. This statement follows the killing of a senior commander in an unprecedented Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital. Nasrallah declared that Hezbollah is now engaged in “an open battle on all fronts,” indicating that the current situation transcends mere support operations. He proclaimed, “We are facing a big battle now; it is beyond a support front now,” highlighting the gravity of the ongoing conflict.