Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Laid to Rest in Qatar as Middle East Braces for More Tensions

Thousands of mourners gathered around the flag-draped coffin of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar on Friday. The funeral in Doha, attended by members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as Qatari and Iranian officials, was subdued. Across the Muslim world, from Jordan to Morocco, crowds waved Palestinian flags and chanted for revenge after Friday prayers.

"Let Friday be a day of rage to denounce the assassination," said senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq. Haniyeh had been living in Qatar with other senior Hamas leaders. His death followed the back-to-back assassinations of Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday and top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut the previous evening.

International Reactions and Diplomatic Efforts

Following these assassinations, international diplomats scrambled to prevent a full-scale regional war. Iran and its proxies vowed retaliation. Major airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut. France increased security for Jewish communities nationwide, while Poland warned its citizens against traveling to the Middle East.

Turkey lowered its flags to half-staff, prompting Israel to summon Turkey's deputy ambassador for a reprimand. Turkey's foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli responded that Israel "cannot achieve peace by killing the negotiators," referring to Haniyeh's role in cease-fire talks.

In Jerusalem, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri mentioned "the martyr Ismail Haniyeh" during his sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque. He prayed for mercy on Haniyeh and was promptly arrested by Israeli police on charges of incitement to violence. "My policy towards instigators is clear — zero tolerance," posted Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on X.

Escalating Tensions and Military Movements

Tensions were high on Israel's northern border after Israel claimed responsibility for killing Shukr. Hezbollah launched rocket and artillery attacks on Israel, causing a fire but no casualties. Israel responded by striking two Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon who had fired rockets.

This exchange was part of ongoing tit-for-tat skirmishes along the Lebanese-Israeli border during the Israel-Hamas war. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared that Shukr's assassination had pushed the conflict into a "new phase."

UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Israel on Friday to push for an immediate cease-fire and de-escalation in the Middle East. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he spoke with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin about increasing military support against Iran and its proxies.

US Military Support and Regional Security

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said approvals are pending for additional US military support to Israel. This could involve deploying more military units, though no specific orders have been given yet. The US has already moved several warships into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, including two Navy destroyers, USS Roosevelt and USS Bulkeley, as well as USS Wasp and USS New York.

A US official mentioned that two Navy destroyers currently in the Middle East will head north up the Red Sea toward the Mediterranean. At least one could remain there if needed. The official spoke anonymously about troop movements.

Casualties and Continued Conflict

At least 39,480 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 triggered the latest conflict. Palestinian health authorities do not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their casualty tolls.

On Thursday, Israel announced it killed Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas's military wing, in a July airstrike. Hamas had claimed Deif survived that airstrike in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes continued this week, killing 15 Palestinians when a school was hit.

"We are sure that his blood will bring out victory, dignity and liberation," said senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya from Doha mosque where Haniyeh's coffin was displayed beside his bodyguard's coffin.

Across the region, vows by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Israel would pay for killing Haniyeh led to calls for intense diplomacy to prevent further escalation. Late Thursday, President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seize the chance for a cease-fire.

UN special coordinator Tor Wennesland said he was working with Lebanon, Qatar, Egypt, and other powers to "prevent a spillover of the conflict." Netanyahu has portrayed recent strikes on Hamas leaders as steps toward freeing Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The distraught families of these hostages rallied Thursday in Tel Aviv to mark 300 days of captivity. Meanwhile, Turkey's foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli shot back at Israel saying they "cannot achieve peace by killing negotiators."