Ismail Haniyeh's death and the reason behind his funeral in Qatar
source: AP/ Ikram Suri
Ismail Haniyeh, the main leader of Hamas, was reportedly killed in an airstrike by Israel. Haniyeh, who was a key figure in Palestinian politics and the leader of Hamas, reportedly died when the strike hit the location he was staying in Iran for the inauguration ceremony of the newly appointed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Haniyeh's death came just hours after Israel claimed that it killed the top military commander of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militia group also backed by Iran.
The Israeli government stated that the attack was a legitimate step in their efforts to reduce the threat from Hamas and suppress violence in the region. They accused Haniyeh of being one of the brains behind rocket attacks on Israeli territory and claimed that this action was necessary to protect their civilians.
Qatar, which hosted the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as part of an agreement with the US. Ismail Haniyeh, who is the leader of Hamas, lives in Doha and has traveled frequently, including to Turkey, since Hamas' deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Qatar is believed to have close ties with Hamas and has served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, hosting Haniyeh's funeral. The country has hosted numerous talks and meetings between Palestinian factions and international parties. Haniyeh's funeral in Qatar is considered a tribute to the political and humanitarian support Qatar has provided to Hamas.
Read More: Qatar: A Leading Mediator in International Conflicts, with a Recent Focus on Palestine-Israel
As one of the Gulf states with significant political influence, Qatar provided a platform to remember Haniyeh in an honorable and diplomatic manner. It also served to raise the international profile of the Palestinian cause and underline Qatar's important role in supporting Palestinian issues.
Former Emir of Qatar and his wife with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (in the middle) in Gaza in 2012. Source: https://news.sky.com
The security situation in Gaza is also very unstable, especially after the death of an important figure like Haniyeh. After the attack of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by Israel in Iran, the reason his body will be buried in Qatar is because Qatar has the infrastructure and capacity to organize the funeral safely, reduce risks for mourners and family members and ensure that the funeral process can take place in an orderly manner.
Meanwhile, the international community has had mixed reactions to this attack. Some countries and international organizations condemned the attack as a dangerous escalation in a long-running conflict, while others called for a suspension of countermeasures and a de-escalation of tensions. The United Nations and several human rights organizations have called for an independent investigation into the attack and stressed the need to return to the negotiating table.
Haniyeh's death does not mean that the future and glory of Hamas and Palestine will be destroyed. On the contrary, Hamas and Palestinian politics will show growing strength. Haniyeh, as one of the central figures in Hamas' leadership structure, has laid a strong foundation for the continuation of the struggle.
Haniyeh's death will strengthen determination and consolidation in Hamas' strategy and internal organizational dynamics. Analysts believe that this event will trigger a revival of the spirit of struggle because the death of Ismail Haniyeh due to the attack in Iran will be able to increase the passion and enthusiasm for the struggle of Hamas and Palestine, including supporting organizations and countries that are ready to help and fortify Palestine.
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