Anger over the killing of Hamas leader Haniya sparked protests in Iran, Turkey, Jordan and Tunisia. Iran reportedly ordered a direct attack on Israel.
In the Iranian capital Tehran, thousands of people took part in the state-organized mourning ceremony for the slain political leader of the Islamist Hamas, Ismail Haniya. The entire political elite of Iran was also present, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the new president Massoud Peseschkian. Khamenei held a funeral prayer in front of Haniya’s coffin. With shouts of “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”, the crowd expressed their support for Haniya and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as their opposition to Israel. The Iranian government had ordered three days of national mourning following the targeted killing of the senior Hamas leader in Tehran. Haniya will be buried on Friday in his adopted home of Qatar.
Haniya was visiting Tehran on Tuesday to attend the swearing-in of the new Iranian President Peseschkian. On the night of Wednesday he was the victim of an air attack. Hamas and Iran blame their arch enemy Israel. It is still unclear what exactly led to his death. Experts say it was either an air attack or a rocket attack. The site of the attack was a “special residence” in northern Tehran – allegedly in the palace of the former Persian Shah – which is normally always heavily guarded.
Iran threatens retaliation against Israel
At the same time as Hamas, Iran has also threatened to take immediate retaliatory action against Israel. Khamenei and President Peseschkian described a punitive action as the country’s legitimate right, since the attack was carried out on Iranian soil. In an emergency meeting, the Iranian Security Council also reviewed various scenarios in this regard. Details have not yet been announced.
The attack came at a very unfortunate time for Iran. Only eight hours earlier, Peseschkian, who is considered a moderate, had been sworn in as the new Iranian president. In his speech, he spoke of a new era in which he also wanted to have a constructive dialogue with the West. Observers consider it unlikely that this dialogue will be possible even after a possible retaliatory attack on Israel.
Iran is also in the midst of a long-term economic crisis. Before his election, Peseschkian promised to revive the desolate economy with foreign policy reforms. What he definitely does not need, according to observers, is a military conflict with arch-enemy Israel, which could plunge the Islamic country into international isolation once again.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
