Thousands attend funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh

The funeral ceremony of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar yesterday was attended by thousands of people and leaders from various Arab and Islamic countries, including Malaysia.

Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, representing the government at the event, said on Facebook that the attendance of thousands during the funeral prayer and burial ceremony clearly showed the high regard for him as the supreme leader of Palestine.

Shamsul (above, centre) was accompanied by representatives from the Malaysian embassy in Doha to escort Ismail’s body to be buried at the Founding Imam Cemetery in Lusail City, Doha at 1pm local time.

“On behalf of the Malaysian government, I have paid my final respects to the highest leader of Hamas, the late Ismail Haniyeh,” he said.

Iranian media reported that Ismail was killed in an Israeli attack targeting his lodgings in northern Tehran around 2am local time on July 31.

Ismail was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

In his post, Shamsul expressed optimism that Ismail’s struggle will continue in the effort to liberate Palestine from Zionist control and become an independent state.

Also representing the Malaysian government at the ceremony were Senator Mujahid Yusof as well as officials from the Home Ministry and the Malaysian embassy in Qatar.

- Bernama