Body of Hamas Leader Haniyeh Arrives in Doha

The body of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh arrived in the Qatari capital of Doha from Iran and will be buried, according to Qatari media.

The wife of assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh mourned next to his coffin after it arrived at Doha, Qatar ahead of his funeral and burial. 

A funeral was held in the Iranian capital of Tehran with a large number of mourners and officials participating, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, said media reports.

Haniyeh was first pictured, before the inauguration, meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Afterwards, Iranian state media published images of Haniyeh meeting with Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Palestinian resistance group and Iran announced Haniyeh’s assassination in an Israeli airstrike that targeted his residence in Tehran, one day after he attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Though Israel has remained silent about the killing, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at Tel Aviv's involvement in his assassination.

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran using an explosive device that had been covertly hidden in the guest house where he was staying, a source familiar with the matter said.

According to the source, who had been briefed on the operation, the bomb was concealed about two months ago in the guest house where Haniyeh was known to stay in Tehran and detonated remotely once he was inside his room there.

The Iranian government and Hamas say Israel carried out the assassination. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

US officials were briefed on the operation by Israeli officials only after the assassination, the source said.

Iranian state media and Hamas previously indicated that Haniyeh was killed by a rocket fired from outside the building in which he was staying.