The funeral for the son of Hamas deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya and 4 other members of the group took place at a mosque in Doha, Qatar on 11/9, two days after the Israeli airstrike on a building in the city. Photos in the media showed senior Hamas members like Osama Hamdan and Izzat al-Rishq present, but al-Hayya was noticeably absent.
Hamas stated on 12/9 that al-Hayya attended the funeral, but no images of him have been released, raising questions about a possible serious injury.
Al-Hayya is one of Hamas' most powerful members and currently leads the group's hostage negotiation team.
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The funeral for Hamas members killed in the Israeli airstrike, held in Doha, Qatar on 11/9. Photo: Al Mayadeen News |
The funeral for Hamas members killed in the Israeli airstrike, held in Doha, Qatar on 11/9. Photo: Al Mayadeen News
On 9/9, Israel used precision-guided missiles to strike the building while Hamas leaders were meeting to discuss a U.S.-proposed ceasefire for the Gaza Strip. The attack killed 6 people: al-Hayya's son, three bodyguards, his chief of staff, and a member of Qatari security forces.
The Saudi Arabian newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Hamas leadership survived because they had left the meeting room to pray in another part of the building just before the missiles hit.
They reportedly left behind a phone that was being monitored by Israeli intelligence. This led Israeli intelligence to believe they were still in the meeting room, resulting in the mistimed airstrike, according to Israel's Keshet 12.
Israeli media reported that the country's security agencies have begun to acknowledge that the airstrike failed to eliminate any senior Hamas leaders.
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Khalil al-Hayya speaking on television on 17/4. Photo: Hamas Media Office |
Khalil al-Hayya speaking on television on 17/4. Photo: Hamas Media Office
Huyen Le (Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel)
