Thousands attend the funeral of a top Hamas official killed in an apparent Israeli strike in Beirut

Thousands of people took to the streets of Beirut for the funeral of a top Hamas commander, Saleh Arouri, who was killed earlier this week in an apparent Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital

BEIRUT -- Thousands of people took to the streets of Beirut Thursday for the funeral of top Hamas commander Saleh Arouri who was killed earlier this week in an apparent Israeli airstrike on an apartment in the Lebanese capital.

Draped in Palestinian and Hamas flags, Arouri’s coffin along with those of two of his comrades were first taken to a Beirut mosque for prayers before being carried to the Palestine Martyrs Cemetery where top Palestinian officials killed by Israel over the hast five decades are buried. Arouri's automatic rifle was placed on his coffin at the prayer service.

The funeral was attended by Palestinian officials, including top Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk, as well as representatives of some Lebanese political groups. People tried to touch the coffins that were surrounded by Hamas members wearing green caps. Some of the Hamas members were armed.

“The enemy is running away from its failures and defeats (in Gaza) to Lebanon," Hamas top leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech aired during the funeral. He added that the killing of Arouri in Beirut "is a proof of (Israel's) bloody mentality.”

Lebanese officials and state media said an Israeli drone fired two missiles Tuesday at an apartment in Beirut’s southern Musharafieh district that is a stronghold of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group instantly killing Arouri along with six other Hamas members, including military commanders.