Image Credits: Daily Sabah
Mourners gathered at a mosque in Doha on Friday to pay tribute to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in an attack attributed to Israel. This assassination has amplified concerns of a broader conflict, with Haniyeh’s death provoking calls for revenge and casting doubt on the future of peace negotiations.
Haniyeh, who had played a crucial role in peace talks aimed at resolving nearly ten months of conflict between Hamas and Israel, was a significant figure in the Palestinian group. He will be buried in Lusail, north of Doha, following funeral prayers at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, the largest in Qatar.
His killing is part of a series of incidents since April that have heightened regional tensions amid the Gaza conflict, involving Iran-backed groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Turkey and Pakistan observed a day of mourning to honour Haniyeh, while Hamas declared a “day of furious rage.” Hundreds of mourners, many wearing scarves with the Palestinian flag or traditional keffiyeh patterns, gathered at the mosque under tight security provided by Doha traffic police and Qatar’s internal security forces.
According to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed in a pre-dawn attack on their Tehran accommodation early Wednesday. Haniyeh had travelled to Iran to attend President Masoud Pezeshkian’s swearing-in. Israel, which has been accused of the attack by Hamas, Iran, and others, has not commented directly.
A source close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Iranian officials met in Tehran to plan responses with representatives of the “Axis of Resistance,” including Hezbollah and Hamas. The source revealed to Daily Sabah that two possible responses were considered: a simultaneous retaliation from Iran and its allies or a staggered response.
Earlier this year, Haniyeh’s deputy, Saleh al-Aruri, was killed in a strike in south Beirut, attributed to Israel. Additionally, Israel confirmed that an airstrike in July killed Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel has delivered severe blows to its enemies.
In Tehran, thousands attended Haniyeh’s funeral, led by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had threatened “harsh punishment” for the assassination. Haniyeh’s body was then transferred to Doha, with Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attending the ceremonies. Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its October 7 incursion, which resulted in 1,197 deaths and 251 hostages, with 111 still captive. Israel’s retaliatory actions have led to at least 39,480 deaths in Gaza.
The New York Times reported that Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device planted at a Tehran guesthouse weeks earlier. Israeli spokesperson Daniel Hagari denied any Israeli aerial attacks in the region that night. Analyst Hugh Lovatt suggested that Haniyeh’s death likely eliminates any prospects for a cease-fire deal. Despite this, international calls for calm continue, with U.S. President Joe Biden expressing concern over rising tensions. In Tel Aviv, protests demand a deal to release the remaining hostages, while Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah warned of an “inevitable response” to the recent killings.