Tens of thousands bid farewell to Haniyeh in Doha in solemn funeral
Doha (Quds News Network)- Tens of thousands of mourners from all around the world gathered in the Qatari capital to perform the funeral prayer for Ismail Haniyeh, the former Prime Minister and head of the political bureau of Hamas.
The ‘Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab’ Mosque in Doha was filled with tens of thousands of worshippers who came to participate in Haniyeh’s funeral ceremony after the Friday prayer. Following the prayer, Haniyeh was laid to rest at the Imam Founder Cemetery in Lusail.
Among those attending the funeral prayer were the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and official delegations and leaders of Palestinian factions.
Iran has announced the dispatch of Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref to Doha for the funeral. Additionally, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Doha to attend the funeral, conveying his condolences to Hamas’ exiled leader Khaled Meshaal.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, removes his agal (headband) at Ismail Haniyeh's funeral.
In Arab tradition, when a mourner removes his agal during a funeral ceremony, it means the loss is their own. pic.twitter.com/8raRZ5Ik1c
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 2, 2024
A delegation of senior Afghani officials take part in the funeral prayer for Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar. pic.twitter.com/N5V60JcFvZ
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 2, 2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously declared a national day of mourning on Friday in honor of Haniyeh, coinciding with his burial in Qatar. Erdogan wrote on Platform X: “A one-day national mourning has been declared (Friday, August 2) to show our support for the Palestinian cause and our solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”
A high-level delegation of Afghani officials took part in the funeral prayer as well.
The funeral was also attended by a delegation of Jews who support the Palestinian cause and oppose Zionism.
A Jewish delegation, wearing Palestinian scarves and keffiyehs, participated in the funeral of Palestinian leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar today. pic.twitter.com/V5ICnPHjsI
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 2, 2024
Media sources reported that the burial procedures would be limited to close family members and friends to respect the privacy of Haniyeh’s family and the cemetery.
On Thursday, the body of Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Doha from Iran. The Iranian capital had held an official and public funeral for Haniyeh after his assassination.
Earlier, on Wednesday morning, Hamas announced that Haniyeh and one of his aides were martyred in an Israeli raid targeting his residence in Tehran following his participation in the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian.
