Palestinian pastor mourns Hamas leader Haniyeh

Father Abdullah Julio, the head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Monastery in Ramallah, yesterday mourned the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated earlier in the day in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Anadolu reported.

Father Julio said he considered Haniyeh’s fate to be that “of anyone who is loyal to his people” adding that “the pure blood of martyrs builds homelands.”

“We extend condolences to ourselves for our late martyr Ismail Haniyeh, mercy and eternity to all our martyrs,” he said, adding: “We ask God Almighty for our people everywhere for patience, solace and more steadfastness so that we can continue our path and see our desired wishes come true.”

“We pray every day for peace for the land of peace, Palestine, and there is no peace with the occupation.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas announced the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in a “Zionist plot” in Tehran, Iran. According to reports, Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their residence was attacked.

The Iranian Tasnim News Agency indicated that an investigation into the assassination is underway, with results expected soon.

Haniyeh had arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and met with Pezeshkian and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has not commented on the news, while Iran has vowed to make the perpetrator “deeply regret it”.

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