Qatar: Funeral for Martyrs of the Israeli Attack Attended by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and Hamas Leaders

SadaNews - Qatar held a funeral on Thursday for six people who were martyred in the unprecedented Israeli bombardment targeting officials from the "Hamas" movement on Tuesday, attended by its Amir amidst tight security at a mosque in Doha. The funeral prayer was held at the "Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab" mosque for the martyrs, comprising five Palestinians and a Qatari security personnel. The latter's coffin was draped with the Qatari flag, while the other five were covered with Palestinian flags, as shown in the live broadcast by Qatar TV. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, led the prayer and the funeral procession, where many participants wore the traditional white attire, while others appeared in casual or formal clothing. Hamas leaders were also present at the funeral, including Husam Badran, Ezzat al-Rishq, and Osama Hamdan. Some roads in Doha were closed, particularly those leading to the vicinity of the mosque, with a heavy deployment of internal security forces (Lekhwiya), one of whom was martyred in the Israeli attack. Traffic jams were heavy in the streets surrounding the mosque, as the funeral took place during peak hours in the capital coinciding with the end of the official working hours for employees and schools and just before the weekend holiday on Friday and Saturday in Qatar. Earlier on the same day, the Qatari Ministry of Interior announced in a statement via the "X" platform: "The Ministry of Interior announces that the funeral prayer for the martyrs of the Israeli targeting (...) will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, and they will be laid to rest in the Musaimir cemetery." Israel bombed Doha on Tuesday, targeting leaders of the "Hamas" movement, but the movement stated that its senior officials survived, while five of its members and one Qatari security personnel were martyred. Hamas clarified that the martyrs included: Humam, the son of the movement's chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, his office director Jihad Labad, and his companions Ahmad Mamlook, Abdullah Abdul Wahid, and Momen Hassouna. Additionally, Qatari Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed Al-Humaidi Al-Dosari was martyred. In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated that he could not confirm the fate of Al-Hayya. The Prime Minister viewed the attack as ending all hope regarding hostages in Gaza, confirming that Qatar is "re-evaluating everything" related to its role as a key mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas. Doha has hosted several rounds of indirect negotiations between the two sides. Qatar has hosted the political office of the movement since 2012 with the blessing of Washington, which sought to maintain a channel of communication with the movement. Sheikh Mohammed expressed hope for a collective regional response to the attack, noting that an Arab-Islamic conference will be held in Doha to decide on the next steps. The initial Israeli strikes in the Gulf have shocked a region that has long distanced itself from Middle Eastern conflicts and have provoked widespread international condemnation. Former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniya was previously buried in Qatar after being assassinated by Israel in Tehran in July 2024.