IRAN: Iran Holds Funeral for Assassinated Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

ByChioma NdukwuAugust 1, 20241 Mins read35 Views

Mandatory Credit: Photo by ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (14612677b) Iranians carry the portrait of late Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and wave Palestinian flags during a protest at Tehran University in Tehran, Iran, 31 July 2024. According to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) statement on 31 July, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were targeted and killed in Tehran on 31 July 2024. Iranians protest following Hamas political leader Haniyeh's killing in Tehran, Iran Islamic Republic Of - 01 Jul 2024

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the funeral for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard in Tehran on August 1, 2024.

The ceremony, attended by Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian, saw mourners following a truck carrying the coffins towards Azadi Square, with many throwing flowers. Haniyeh’s remains will be transferred to Qatar for burial.

The assassination, blamed on Israel, occurred when an airstrike targeted a residence Haniyeh used in Tehran. This incident comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s vow to target Hamas leaders after an October 7 attack by the group. Iran, a supporter of Hamas and other Palestinian groups, is investigating the attack. The assassination has raised fears of escalating into a broader regional conflict