Hamas Confirms That Khalil Hayya is Alive

SadaNews - Hamas confirmed today, Friday, that its leader in the Gaza Strip, Khalil Hayya, is alive, stating that he attended his son’s funeral prayer under security arrangements in Qatar.

 

 

The movement stated in a statement that Hayya performed the funeral prayer for his son Hamam and others who were killed in the Israeli strike on Doha, following security arrangements in Qatar.

Images revealed the appearance of some targeted Hamas leaders during the Israeli strike on Qatar, during the funeral of the victims of the attack on Doha.

The images included Hamas leader Osama Hamdan, political bureau member Ezzat al-Rashaq, and Hussam Badran after the targeting of the Qatari capital; however, Hayya did not appear in the photos, which raised speculations about his injury or possible death.

Meanwhile, scenes showed the wife of Khalil Hayya, head of Hamas’s political bureau, bidding farewell to her son Hamam, who was killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Doha.

On Thursday, Hamas mourned Khalil Hayya’s son, his office director, and three aides in the attack. Hamas leader Fawzi Barhoum stated in a speech on Thursday that Khalil Hayya’s wife and his son’s wife were injured in the Israeli attack in Qatar.

Hamas officially announced that the raid targeting its leaders in Qatar failed, stating that six were killed in the raid, including the son of Hamas leader Khalil Hayya.

In contrast, Israeli media reported that the raids on Doha targeted Khalil Hayya, head of the movement in Gaza, Khaled Meshaal, Moussa Abu Marzouk, Zahir Jabareen, Muhammad Darwish, Hussam Badran, and Nizar Awadallah.

Meanwhile, Channel 12 in Israel noted on Wednesday that indications are rising that the assassination of Hamas leaders in Qatar failed, suggesting that it is unlikely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will acknowledge the operation's failure in Doha.

Israeli broadcasting authority also cited a security source stating that the Qatar attack likely did not achieve the intended results.

It is noteworthy that Israel carried out the surprise strike on Tuesday against the Qatari capital while senior Hamas leaders (including Khalil Hayya, one of the movement's top leaders abroad and head of its delegation in ceasefire talks) were gathered to discuss ways of settlement, amid the efforts of mediators (Qatar, Egypt, and the United States) to stop the war in the Palestinian sector.