ALBAWABA - Iran has started the funeral ceremony for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who was assassinated in the capital Tehran on July 31.
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei is leading the funeral prayer over the body of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.
According to IRNA, the ceremony started on Thursday at the University of Tehran where mourners raised portraits of the Hamas leader. Khamenei will lead prayers over the coffins of Haniyeh and his bodyguard who was killed in the rocket attack on the residency in Tehran.
The office of Iran's Supreme Leader said earlier that the funeral prayer would be held at the university premises and then they will head toward the Azadi Square.
Ismail Haniyeh will be buried in Qatar, a statement released by Hamas confirmed that the Hamas leader will be buried in the cemetery of the founding Imam in Lusail.
Iran and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh, the Israeli government did not claim responsibility and said it would make no comment on the killing.
According to the New York Times, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to prepare for both attack and defense strategies in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
According to NYT which cited multiple Iranian officials, the country is reportedly considering a range of retaliatory measures, including drone and missile strikes on military targets near Tel Aviv and Haifa.
