Shock, anger: Palestinians in Gaza react to Haniyeh’s assassination
Al Jazeera
Displaced Palestinians describe a Hamas leader who was approachable and say his death shows how everyone is a target.
Deir el-Balah, Gaza, Palestine – Palestinians living in displacement camps in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip expressed anger, sadness and despair after the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
The leader was killed early on Wednesday in what the Palestinian group described as “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence”.
Saleh al-Shannat, 67, who was displaced from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza said the news was “heartbreaking”.
“Ismail Haniyeh was a Palestinian leader, not just a Hamas leader. He was a former prime minister in the Palestinian unity government and a peaceful leader. His loss is immense for us,” he told Al Jazeera, referring to how Haniyeh briefly served as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority’s government in 2006.
“Palestinians lost a great leader,” the father of 12 said as tears streamed down his face.
