Video: Haniyeh to Be Buried in Qatar as Iran Prepares Response

Mourners gathered at a mosque in Qatar on Friday to pay their respects to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in an incident attributed to Israel, escalating fears of an intensifying conflict.

As the political leader of Hamas, Haniyeh had been pivotal in ongoing negotiations intended to halt the nearly ten-month conflict between his organization and Israel in Gaza. His assassination has sparked calls for retaliation and cast doubt on the future of peace talks.

Haniyeh, residing in Doha along with fellow Hamas political leaders, was slated for burial in Lusail, just north of the Qatari capital, following funeral prayers at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, Qatar’s largest.

His death is one of several recent events that have heightened tensions in the region amid the Gaza conflict, which has seen involvement from Iran-supported militant groups across the Middle East.

In remembrance of Haniyeh, Turkey and Pakistan declared a national day of mourning, while Hamas declared a “day of furious rage.” By early morning, hundreds had already gathered at the mosque in Doha, many wearing scarves adorned with the Palestinian flag or traditional keffiyeh patterns. Security was tight, with Qatari traffic police and internal security forces closely monitoring the area.

The attack that killed Haniyeh occurred early Wednesday in Tehran, where he had gone for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Hamas, along with Iran and others, pointed the finger at Israel, who has yet to officially comment.

In response to the assassination, Iranian officials met with allies to discuss potential collective retaliation, hinting at either a unified or staggered response from allied groups.

The conflict has seen almost daily skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, including an Israeli strike on a Beirut suburb just hours before which killed a Hezbollah military leader. Additionally, Israel confirmed the killing of Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif in a July airstrike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the strikes were decisive against Israel’s adversaries. Meanwhile, a public mourning for Haniyeh was held in Tehran, attended by Iran’s supreme leader, who called for severe repercussions for the assassination.

Haniyeh’s body was subsequently moved to Doha, with Iran’s first vice president attending the funeral ceremonies.

Netanyahu has reiterated his intention to dismantle Hamas following an attack by the group on October 7, which reignited hostilities.

The possibility of a ceasefire seems increasingly unlikely, as noted by analysts and political figures, despite international calls for de-escalation and a focus on negotiating peace. President Joe Biden expressed concern about the escalating tension and discussed the situation with Netanyahu, urging progress towards a ceasefire.

In Israel, public demonstrations continue as citizens urge their government to secure the release of hostages and reach a peace agreement. Following the recent killings, Hezbollah’s leader warned of a determined response, emphasizing that Israel had crossed critical boundaries.