Eurasia Press & News
Following the July 31, 2024 assassination of Hamas political bureau head Isma’il Haniyeh, the Qatari government press, and especially the Al-Sharq daily, published many articles that praised him and glorified resistance, martyrdom, and jihad against Israel, while stressing that Haniyeh’s path of resistance is “the right path that must be followed with perseverance.” Stating that Haniyeh attained his greatest wish by becoming a martyr, and that he “will not be the last of the Palestinian martyrs,” the articles presented martyrdom as “the jihad fighter’s loftiest aspiration” and “the finest ending to the life of a leader who spent his life waging jihad.” They also emphasized that martyrs do not really die, for the Quran states that they live on in the presence of Allah.
The articles also promised that Haniyeh’s death will not weaken the resistance against Israel, but rather encourage many Palestinians to follow his example and sacrifice their lives for Allah and for the liberation of Jerusalem. Moreover, new leaders will emerge from among his disciples who will develop new methods of resistance that the enemy cannot even envision. Claiming that the goal of the resistance and the jihad fighters is “the liberation of all of Palestine or the achievement of martyrdom,” the articles declared that there is no room for two states on Palestinian land and promised that “victory is closer than ever.”
It should be noted that the funeral ceremony for Haniyeh was held on August 2, 2024 at Doha’s central mosque and was attended by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; his father, the former emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; senior Hamas officials and representatives from the Arab and Muslim world. Following the funeral Haniyeh was buried in a cemetery in the city of Lusail, north of Doha, where the founder of the Qatari state and the members of the ruling family are buried.[1]
The following are translated excerpts from some of the articles in praise of Haniyeh in the Qatari press:
Qatari Journalist: Haniyeh’s Death Will Motivate Others To Sacrifice Their Lives; Martyrdom Is The Jihad Fighter’s Loftiest Aspiration
Qatari columnist Abdullah Al-Imadi, a former media advisor to the Qatari Education Minister and former deputy editor of the daily Al-Sharq, wrote in his column in that daily under the title “Blessings Upon You, Haniyeh”: Abu Al-Abd Isma’il Haniyeh will not be the last martyr of this nation… but, for us, he is the latest to join the precession of martyrs that will never end, for Allah has resolved to accomplish a matter already destined [Quran 8:44].
“Just as Haniyeh’s murder saddened millions of Muslims worldwide, so it also proves… that the path he followed, and his brothers in the Palestinian resistance before him, is the right path that must be followed persistently and without straying. [It is] the path of the prophets and the messengers, the martyrs and the righteous, and excellent are those as companions [Quran 4:69].
“In his prayers and sermons, Haniyeh frequently recited the verse about the processions of the martyrs: ‘And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision’ [Quran 3:169] … Until the day came when we, and millions of Muslims, recited that same magnificent verse after the news came of Haniyeh’s death, and we asked Allah to count him among the martyrs, for he [now] lives with Allah, and how pleasant is life with Allah.
“The Zionists and the polytheists, and their hypocritical supporters in this nation, will be glad to hear of Haniyeh’s murder, thinking that the departure of a commander and jihad fighter from the field will demoralize the jihad fighters. [They] fail to understand that, when a jihad fighter of Haniyeh’s caliber is martyred, it only sparks a process that generates new energy which stabilizes people, strengthens them and motivates them to sacrifice more for the sake of Allah. Moreover, the martyr becomes a role model who influences many who have yet to embark on this blessed path…
“Isma’il Haniyeh was martyred to produce thousands of [others like him]. This is as clear as day, [for] jihad will continue until the Day of Judgement. As long as there is heresy or oppression anywhere, jihad will [be waged] to ambush and confront them. Whenever a tyrant appears anywhere, a hundred jihad fighters will rise up against him… for the jihad fighter pushes back against injustice and knows with complete certainty that this effort can have only two outcomes: either victory or martyrdom, both of which the jihad fighter desires. If he is victorious and saves the believers [i.e., the Muslims] and their countries from the injustice of the usurpers, that is good. And if he cannot accomplish this and is martyred [in the attempt] – why, martyrdom is his loftiest goal… Blessings upon you, my honorable brother [Haniyeh], for achieving martyrdom…”[2]
Columnist For Qatari Daily: Haniyeh’s Disciples Will Raise New Leaders Who Will Complete The Liberation Of Jerusalem And Advance The Resistance
Suleiman Salah, formerly a member of the Muslim Brotherhood party in the Egyptian parliament, wrote in his column in the Qatari daily Al-Sharq: “Martyrdom is the finest ending to the life of a leader who spent his life waging a war of jihad in order to elevate the word of Allah, while also defending Jerusalem, working to liberate the land of Palestine, adhering to his principles, and refusing to surrender to reality…
“Isma’il Haniyeh was awarded with martyrdom after having parted from 60 family members [who had been killed] and from 40,000 [people killed] from among his nation, which is steadfastly waging resistance and is determined to liberate its land. Throughout his life, Haniyeh repeatedly said that he was preparing to be a martyr. The nation will part from its martyr and will rise up of its own free will following [the spilling of] his pure blood. From among his disciples, thousands of leaders will arise who will complete the path to Jerusalem, since its liberation is the goal and the hope… The new leaders will come up with many new ideas that the enemy will not anticipate, and it will discover that Haniyeh, who was killed in a treacherous manner by Stink-yahu [i.e. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu],[3] serves as a role model for his nation, such that millions from the nation of Palestine will follow the path to Jerusalem…
“The martyr Haniyeh used to lead prayers in all the mosques in Gaza and he loved to recite the verse: ‘And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty’ [Quran 3:169-170].’ This is a truth that Allah, in His grace, allowed us to discover in His holy Book, and according to which we shape the goals of our lives and our outlooks on life and death, which we believe is not the end of life…
“There are many leaders in Gaza who will play their roles, will follow [Haniyeh’s] path, and will express their determination to liberate Palestine… Those who pay attention will notice the important fact that a nation that sacrifices martyrs will achieve victory, and I say to you that [Victory] is near and we can clearly see it coming.”[4]
Qatari Journalist: Haniyeh’s Assassination Will Strengthen The Resistance And We’ll Soon Hear About A New Rocket Named After Him
In an article in the daily Al-Sharq, journalist Ibrahim bin Hashem Al-Sadah described Haniyeh as the “martyr for Al-Aqsa whose death is lamented by the Islamic nation” and as “the sheikh and jihad fighter,” and wrote: “… Was the resistance eliminated with the assassination of [Hamas founder Ahmad] Yassin? Did it fade away following the subsequent elimination of other jihad fighters?
“The assassination of the Syrian jihad fighter ‘Izz Ad-Din Al-Qassam by the English forces in 1935 led to the establishment of the [‘Izz Ad-Din] Al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing, in 1991, after all those years. Similarly, just 20 years after the assassination of sheikh Yassin [in 2004], we see the children he educated, who threw stones [during the First Intifada], targeting the enemy tanks with Yassin mortars [named after Ahmad Yassin]. The martyred jihad fighter [Yassin] became a rocket, and the children became men who make the ground tremble beneath the enemy’s feet and bombard its bases and its [populated] areas with rockets that were produced by those same fingers that yesterday threw stones…
“The resistance was transformed into a harsh and problematic equation for the global capitals of arrogance, for its slogan – either victory and the liberation of all of Palestine or martyrdom – cannot be divided into two. Thus, the resistance and its war doctrine grew stronger over the two decades since the murder of its leader and founder [Ahmad Yassin] …
“The new facts that the resistance has imposed on all the elements of the conflict in occupied Palestine cause us to believe even more [than before] that victory is closer than ever, for this is the promise of Allah and He does not break His promises. Just as the resistance grew in quality and quantity since the elimination of its founder [Ahmad Yassin], the assassination of [Hamas’] political bureau head [Haniyeh] will surely have an consequences on all levels and a great impact on the battlefield. Perhaps we will soon hear of a mortar called the ‘Haniyeh,’ and it will be very far from pleasant for the occupier.”[5]
Columnist In Qatari Daily: Haniyeh’s Death Will Fuel Revolution And Revenge
Jordanian poet Ayman Otoom wrote in a similar vein in his column in the Qatari daily Al-Raya: “…Isma’il Haniyeh has been treacherously murdered… Will his death bring an end to the resistance? Whoever believes this is delusional. [On the contrary,] his death will be fuel for revolution and revenge, and history will testify to this. Is he the first to die in this harsh way? No, he was preceded by [Hamas] flounder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and [Hamas officials] ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz Al-Rantisi, Salah Shehade, Yahya Ayyash, and a procession of [other] fighters. [This procession] continues to sacrifice its [bright] moons – moon after moon during these dark nights – and what is the result? Have you seen the impact this has had on the resistance? Yes, we have all seen it. More than twenty years separate the first moon [that was eliminated] and the last. Has the precession been defeated and stopped? Has it tired or despaired…? Not at all.
“The man [i.e., Isma’il Haniyeh] was killed by an Israeli rocket that was aimed directly at his pure body, or by a timebomb or a mortar [fired] from the sea to the land, or from any other place. [One way or the other] the end is the same: He found what he was seeking throughout his life, what he anticipated and waited for. He met his God while bearing his suffering patiently and standing firm… His blood will be a curse for the oppressive tyrants and a lamp that will light the path of the believers who bear their suffering patiently. Is there more explicit evidence than this?!”[vi]
Qatari Journalist: Millions Will Take Over From Haniyeh; The Is No Room For Two States On The Palestinian Land
Qatari journalist Ibtisam Aal Sa’d wrote in a similar vein in her column in the Al-Sharq daily: “… I am certain that the assassination of Haniyeh, or of anyone else, will not stop the Palestinian resistance, because the resistance, as I see it, is an idea and a legacy that is not limited to [any particular] personage. [On the contrary], the assassination of [a leader] is fuel that ignites, rather than extinguishes, [the resistance]. Tel Aviv may slept happily last night, and Netanyahu, who is clutching at straws, may have scored some points, but [Tel Aviv] will certainly not be happy tomorrow night – for Haniyeh will be succeeded by a thousand [new] Haniyehs, and millions will inherit his idea and continue his path. One who disappears [from the field] is not like the one who will come after him, for [the latter] carries the idea of revenge for hundreds of thousands of martyrs. The resistance that was granted legitimacy by the world in Ukraine, and the resistance that defeated the American invasion of Vietnam, will continue to exist in Palestine, because the arena can’t tolerate two states in the land that is Palestinian [in terms of its] history, identity, citizenship, ideology and geography.”[7] [1] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), August 4, 2024. See also MEMRI TV Clip No. 11289, “In Qatar Sermon, Part Of Hamas Leader Haniyeh’s Funeral, Attended By Emir Of Qatar And Dignitaries From The Muslim World, Imam Muhammad Al-Muraikhi Praises Martyrdom, Calls To Bring Annihilation Upon The Enemies Of The Muslims,” August 2, 2024.
[2] Al-Sharq (Qatar), August 1, 2024. [3] In the original Arabic, this is a play on the name of the Israeli prime minister: “al-natan Yahu” literally translates as “the stinky [Netan]Yahu.” [4] Al-Sharq (Qatar), August 4, 2024. [5] Al-Sharq (Qatar), August 4, 2024. [6] Al-Raya (Qatar), August 6, 2024. [7] Al-Sharq (Qatar), August 1, 2024
