Mourning in Doha: Abdelilah Benkirane Attends Ismail Haniyeh’s Funeral
Qatar Condemns Israeli Action, Warning of Potential Escalation
In a solemn ceremony attended by dignitaries and mourners, Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD), paid his respects at the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau. Haniyeh was tragically assassinated earlier this week in an Israeli attack in Iran, a move that has been widely condemned and is feared to destabilize ongoing ceasefire efforts.
Benkirane, accompanied by Mohamed Reda Benkhaldoun, the PJD’s international relations officer, joined thousands in the funeral prayer held at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul al-Wahhab Mosque in Doha. The subsequent burial took place at Lusail cemetery. Among the notable attendees were Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad and his predecessor, Hamad bin Khalifa, alongside representatives from various Palestinian factions and members of Haniyeh’s family.
The assassination of Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Benkirane decried the killing as a “treacherous terrorist operation” and a “cowardly” act by Israel. The attack, which also claimed the life of Haniyeh’s bodyguard, is seen as a significant blow to regional stability.
Born in 1963 in Gaza City, Haniyeh was a pivotal figure in Hamas’ political and military strategies. He served as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority from 2006 to 2007 before Hamas assumed control of Gaza. Haniyeh was instrumental in the ongoing conflict in Gaza and played a crucial role in ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Qatari officials have vehemently condemned the assassination, asserting that it jeopardizes peace efforts. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani questioned the feasibility of mediation efforts when “one party assassinates the negotiator of the other party.” This sentiment echoes a broader concern that the assassination could provoke further chaos in the region.
Commemorations for Haniyeh were held in multiple countries, including Turkey, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, reflecting his significant influence and the widespread grief over his death.
As the international community watches closely, the repercussions of Haniyeh’s assassination continue to unfold, with many fearing that this act of violence could derail fragile peace negotiations and lead to increased instability in an already volatile region.