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Thousands attend Gaza funeral of slain Hamas official

Palestinians poured into the streets on Saturday for the funeral of Mazen Faqha.

Mazen Faqha, Hamas Gaza Funeral
Hundreds of Hamas fighters marched through the streets of Gaza City on Saturday alongside the body of Mazen Faqha. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
By Ezz Zanoun
Published On 27 Mar 2017

Thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets on Saturday in the besieged Gaza Strip for the funeral of murdered Hamas commander Mazen Faqha. 

The Hamas movement announced on Friday that 38-year-old Faqha, a former prisoner and senior leader in the al-Qassam Brigades, was “assassinated” by unidentified assailants in southern Gaza City, accusing Israel of carrying out the targeted killing. 

Senior member of Hamas’ politburo Izzat al-Rishq said the gun used to kill Faqha was equipped with a silencer. 

Originally from the district of Tubas in the northern occupied West Bank, Faqha was released from serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal and exiled to the Gaza Strip. 

The Islamic Jihad Movement said Faqha’s assassination marked the beginning of “a new offensive” by Israel against the Palestinian resistance, and that the resistance had the right to respond and defend itself. 

Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
The funeral procession drew a crowd of thousands. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
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Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
Hamas officials say he was assassinated outside his home in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood of southwestern Gaza City. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
Faqha allegedly helped found Hamas' West Bank heaquarters. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Mazen Faqha, Hamas , Gilad Shalit deal, Gaza
A senior member in Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, he was released from an Israeli prison in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
'Hamas and its military wing hold Israel and its collaborators responsible for this despicable crime,' the group said in a statement shortly after news of Faqha's death broke. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
Izzat al-Rishq, a senior member in Hamas' politburo, said the gun used to shoot Faqha was equipped with a silencer. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
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Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
The Islamic Jihad movement said Faqha's assassination marked the start of 'a new offensive' by Israel against Palestinian resistance, and that the resistance had a right to respond. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
Gaza's PFLP wing, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, said the killing of Faqha 'must be met with a harsh response by all resistance factions'. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
A spokesperson for Gaza's Interior Ministry said security service had opened an investigation into the incident. [Ezz Zaanoun/Al Jazeera]
Hamas blames Israel after Mazen Faqha assassination
Senior Hamas members, including political leader Ismail Haniyeh, centre, and Hamas Gaza Chief Yehya al-Sinwar joined in Saturday's funeral procession. [Al Jazeera/Ezz Zanoun]