Saudi Crown Prince, UAE President face criticism for their 'silence' on Haniyeh's killing

Thousands of mourners on Friday gathered at Qatar’s Imam Muhammed bin Abdul Wahhab mosque to attend the funeral prayers of slain Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

According to BBC, several foreign officials were present at the funeral, including Turkey’s Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Pakistan's Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman and Malaysia's Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah were also present at the funeral.

"Haniyeh’s funeral prayer was attended by various Palestinian factions, diaspora groups, diplomatic dignitaries and nationals from many countries," Al-Jazeera reported.

However, no official from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attended the funeral prayers.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the UAE's long-time de facto ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan were slammed by social media users for not sending their representatives in the mourning ceremony.

Middle East Monitor reported that no official statement condemning Haniyeh's killing was issued by the UAE and the Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not attend Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh's funeral. The UAE only expressed concern about regional escalation, while Saudi Arabia made no statement.

But Iran, a constant supporter of Palestine, is being blamed.

— Hyder Ali Hashmi (@HyderAliHashmii) August 3, 2024

Saudi Arabia and the UAE's absence from Ismail Haniyeh’s funeral shows their lack of interest in ending the genocide in Palestine.

— ج (@sleeeepy__head) August 2, 2024

Did you notice the deafening silence from Saudi Arabia & UAE on Ismail Haniyeh's assassination? While the Muslim world mourns, their response is eerily muted. Is it just me or did you too notice the lack of condolences?

— FREE PALESTINE |🇵🇸 (@farazhard) August 2, 2024

When everyone (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and Morocco) left us you came to our rescue — Khaled Meshal to Emir and Father Emir of Qatar at the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar

— Muhammad Ibrahim Qazi (@miqazi) August 2, 2024

Saudi Arabia and the UAE's absence from Ismail Haniyeh’s funeral shows their lack of interest in ending the genocide in Palestine.

— ج (@sleeeepy__head) August 2, 2024

Following the funeral prayers, Haniyeh's body was taken in a coffin draped in the Palestinian flag for burial at a cemetery in Doha.

The Palestinian leader was laid to rest in the Lusail's graveyard, a city north of Doha.

The 62-year-old Palestinian leader was killed in a missile attack on his residence in Tehran in the early hours of Wednesday (july 31), along with one of his bodyguards.

The Revolutionary Guards stated that the cause of the attack is under investigation and will be announced soon.

Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.