Thousands attend funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Malaysian govt pays respects

KUALA LUMPUR: The funeral ceremony of Hamas’ political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Doha, Qatar on Friday (Aug 2) was attended by thousands of people and leaders from various Arab and Islamic countries, including Malaysia.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, representing the Malaysian government at the event, said in a Facebook post that the thousands at the funeral prayer and burial ceremony clearly showed the high regard for Ismail.

According to Shamsul Anuar, he was accompanied by representatives from the Malaysian Embassy in Doha to escort the leader’s remains for burial 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 Hamas leader, the late Ismail Haniyeh,” he said.

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

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

Shamsul Anuar expressed optimism that Haniyeh’s struggle would 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 Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof, officials from the Home Ministry and officials from the Malaysian Embassy in Qatar.

Shamsul Anuar, who arrived at Hamad International Airport on Friday at 6am, also performed Friday prayers at the Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Al Wahhab Mosque in Doha, Qatar, attended by thousands of worshippers from various countries and locals before being escorted by representatives from the Malaysian Embassy in Doha to accompany Haniyeh’s body to the cemetery and witness the burial ceremony. – Bernama