Funeral processions began in Iran on Thursday for Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an airstrike in Tehran. The attack, attributed to Israel, has heightened tensions in the region. Large crowds gathered, holding up Palestinian flags and portraits of Haniyeh, a key figure in the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The procession started at Tehran University, with mourners chanting slogans against Israel and expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Haniyeh’s death follows the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where at least 39,445 Palestinians have been killed and 91,073 injured, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The October 7 attacks led by Hamas resulted in the deaths of over 1,190 people, mostly civilians, with around 250 hostages taken, of whom about 120 remain in Gaza. The situation has drawn widespread international attention and condemnation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “harsh punishment” for Israel in response to Haniyeh’s assassination. The Israeli government has not officially commented on the incident, but an image circulated on social media from the government press office depicted Haniyeh with the word “eliminated” stamped across his forehead. This development has further escalated the already volatile situation in the region. Stay tuned to FRANCE 24 for live updates on this unfolding story.
