Palestinian Authority Mourns ‘National Symbol,’ Terrorist Leader Ismail Haniyeh

Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran yesterday. Condolences were offered from a plethora of Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, including PA leader Mahmoud Abbas and Jibril Rajoub.

President Abbas condemned the assassination and declared a day of national mourning:

President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas declared a day of mourning and lowering of flags to half-mast for a full day as a sign of mourning over the assassination of former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. …

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas Chairman Ismail Haniyeh. He said it was a cowardly act and a dangerous development.

[WAFA — official PA news agency, July 31, 2024]

Abbas also called Khaled Mashaal, former Hamas Movement chairman and new temporary leader, to express condolences, according to WAFA.

Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub also wrote a long Facebook post describing the arch-terrorist in heroic language. More than just telling us about Haniyeh, the post tells us about the support for terror that runs at the core of the PA.

Jibril Rajoub also serves as Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA):

With great sadness and sorrow, and full of pride, Fatah Movement Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub announces the death of the great national leader

The Martyr, Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, ‘Abu Al-Abed’

Political Bureau Chairman of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas

Who ascended to heaven as a Martyr following a cowardly assassination operation today (Wednesday). And so, he joined the convoy of Martyrs for the homeland who have ascended to heaven on the way to freedom and independence.

The crime of assassinating the Martyr leader Abu Al-Abed is heinous and is part of a long record of crimes by the Occupation against our people. It is a continuation of the total war of annihilation waged by the Israeli war machine against everything Palestinian.

In the face of this grave tragedy, we – and on behalf of the Palestinian leadership, the Fatah Movement Central Committee, the Revolutionary Council, and all the movement’s leaders, members, and supporters in the homeland and in the Diaspora – today inform our people, the masses of our Arab and Islamic nation, and the free people of the world about the death of a great leader, a dear brother, a friend, and a staunch fighter who dedicated his life to his homeland and the righteous causes of his people, and who served as a beacon of resilience and ongoing struggle on the way to freedom and independence…

As we say goodbye today to a national symbol of struggle, we express the noblest feelings and sincere condolences to the brothers in the leadership of the Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas, to the sons and family of the Martyr, Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, and to the entire Haniyeh family in the homeland and in the Diaspora…”

[Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub, Facebook page, June 31, 2024]

Itamar Marcus is Founder and Director of Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article first appeared.

The post Palestinian Authority Mourns ‘National Symbol,’ Terrorist Leader Ismail Haniyeh first appeared on Algemeiner.com.