Maulvi Kabir attends Haniyeh’s funeral in Doha

KABUL (Pajhwok): Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir attended the funeral and burial ceremonies of slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), confirmed on X Maulvi Kabir's visit to Doha to attend the funeral of the Hamas leader.

Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, with the Palestinian group attributing his assassination to Israel. The attack also claimed the life of a bodyguard.

Haniyeh was in Iran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.

His funeral ceremony was held in Tehran under the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Haniyeh was laid to rest in Doha.

Haniyeh, born in Gaza in 1962, was a prominent figure in the Palestinian struggle against Israel. A member of Hamas since 1980, he was elected its chief in 2017.

Haniyeh endured significant personal losses due to Israeli actions, including the deaths of his three sons and four grandsons in an April airstrike.

Despite facing frequent imprisonment and deportations by Israeli authorities, he remained a steadfast leader in the Palestinian resistance. He lived in Qatar in recent years and continued to be a significant influence in Palestinian politics until his death.

In response to the killing of Haniyeh, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a direct retaliatory strike against Israel.

sa/ma