Live Updates: Live blog: Crowds gather for Haniyeh's funeral in Doha

Friday, August 2, 2024

945 GMT — Qatari authorities implemented stringent security measures to ensure the safety of the funeral proceedings for Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, who was assassinated in Iran’s capital Tehran.

Long queues were witnessed at Hamad International Airport in Doha during the night as people gathered to attend the funeral, which will be attended by officials from many countries.

Several main and side streets in Doha have been closed to traffic, with police implementing strict security measures, especially around the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque, where the funeral prayer will be held after Friday prayers, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

The area around the mosque has also seen a significant presence of journalists from local and international media to cover the funeral.

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0918 GMT — Israel claims killing Islamic Jihad military official in Gaza

Israel claimed that it killed a senior military figure from the Islamic Jihad movement in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Israeli army said its forces targeted and eliminated Mohammad al-Jaabari, the deputy head of weapons production and official responsible for financing weapon manufacturing infrastructure.

There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement on the Israeli claims.

0855 GMT — 4 Palestinians killed in Israeli air strike on southern Gaza

At least four Palestinians were killed and several others injured on Friday in an Israeli air strike targeting a home in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

In a statement, the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said: "Our teams retrieved four martyrs and several wounded individuals after Israeli warplanes targeted the Barbakh family's home in Khan Younis."

The statement did not specify the number of injured or the severity of their injuries following the Israeli attack.

10:44 GMT — Killing of Hamas leader not helpful for ceasefire talks — Biden

US President Joe Biden said the assassination of Palestinian group Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh did not help reach a ceasefire in Israel's war in Gaza.

There has been an increased risk of an escalation into a broader Middle East war after the assassination of Haniyeh in Iran drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

The resistance group Hamas and Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirmed the death of Haniyeh, who had participated in internationally-brokered indirect talks on reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.

10:30 GMT — Blinken, UAE discuss ceasefire efforts in Gaza, statement

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with the United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, release hostages and increase humanitarian assistance, the US mission to the Gulf Arab state said.

09:55 GMT — Biden speaks with Netanyahu to reaffirm US commitment to Israel’s security

President Joe Biden spoke afternoon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the White House saying in a readout that Biden “reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.” Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the call.

Biden also discussed efforts to support Israel’s defence and the importance of reducing tensions in the region, officials said.

The US president discussed with Netanyahu new US military deployments to protect against possible attacks from ballistic missiles and drones. In April, US forces intercepted dozens of missiles and drones fired by Iran against Israel and helped down nearly all of them.

08:42 GMT — Jordan, Iran discuss 'dangerous' escalation in region

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri Kani discussed the "dangerous" escalation in the region during a phone call.

The two ministers discussed ways to reduce tensions and protect the region from the "catastrophic consequences” of the escalation, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added that stopping the aggression on Gaza and respecting international law and international humanitarian law are the first steps towards reducing it.

07:30 GMT — Prominent citizens urge India to halt arms shipments to Israel amid Gaza war

A group of eminent citizens in India has written a letter to the country’s defence minister, calling on him to halt the license process that enables exporters to send arms and ammunition to Israel.

“India should immediately suspend its collaboration in the delivery of military material to Israel. Further, India must immediately make every effort to ensure that weapons already delivered to Israel are not used to contribute to acts of genocide or violations of international humanitarian law,” said the letter to Rajnath Singh.

The group included former Supreme Court and high court judges, economists, activists and authors including Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy.

06:30 GMT — Sweden, Slovenia advise against travel to Israel, Palestinian territories

Sweden and Slovenia issued strong advisories urging their citizens to avoid traveling to Israel and the Palestinian territories due to escalating tensions in the region

"Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tightening Sweden's travel advisory regarding Israel and Palestine. From now on, there is a strict advisory against all travel to both countries," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also wrote on X.

"Take this decision seriously. The security situation in the Middle East is serious and can quickly worsen," he added.

05:45 GMT — Biden vows to back Netanyahu as Hezbollah missiles hit Israel

US President Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the White House saying in a readout that Biden "reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security against all threats from Iran," including its allies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the call.

Biden also discussed efforts to support Israel's defence and the importance of reducing tensions in the region, officials said, despite no let up in Israeli genocide in Gaza and assassinations in the region that have escalated regional tensions.

According to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), Israel is responsible for 17,081 attacks in eight countries since October 7 last year, including the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Iran and Iraq.

04:50 GMT — Biden urged to end silence over Israeli land grab, Gaza genocide

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, has said the Biden administration must take action after Israel announced a new seizure of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank and massacred more civilians in Gaza.

Israeli announced the seizure of almost 2,000 acres of Palestinian land near the town of Salfit in the occupied West Bank.

"The Biden administration’s continued silence on the daily massacres and other war crimes in Gaza, and on the de facto annexation of the West Bank, sends the clear message to the far-right Israeli government that it will never be held accountable for any action it takes, no matter how illegal or immoral," CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said.

04:20 GMT — Al Jazeera says Israel's trying to justify killing of journalists

Al Jazeera has slammed Israel's accusation that journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul was a Hamas operative.

"The network condemns the accusations against its correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul, without providing any proof, documentation or video," it said in a statement, adding that it reserved the right to take legal action against those responsible.

"The Israeli occupation forces had previously abducted Ismail on March 18 during their raid on al-Shifa Hospital, detaining him for a period of time before his release, which debunks and refutes their false claim of his affiliation with any organisation," it said.

03:30 GMT — Israel threatens Hezbollah's Nasrallah

Israel's Foreign Minister has threatened Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

"Hassan Nasrallah, stop the boasting speeches, threats, and lies before you pay a heavy price," said Israel Katz in a post showing Nasrallah side-by-side with recently assassinated Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr.

"We will act with full force to restore security to the residents of the north."

03:00 GMT — Jewish group slams Zionism as Israel's genocide in Gaza crosses 300 days

The Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish organisation aimed at Palestine's liberation, has denounced Israel's carnage in Gaza, now in its 301st day, saying they will keep standing with Palestine.

"Today, in grief and horror, we recognize 300 days of genocide perpetrated by the Israeli government against Palestinians in Gaza," Jewish Voice for Peace said on X.

"As we continue to demand a ceasefire and fight for a future where all are free and safe, our commitment to a free Palestine has only grown stronger. And we decry the intentional choices by the US and Israeli governments that have led to this deplorable marker. We will never forget the continued resilience and steadfastness of Palestinians living through this horror."

For our live updates from Thursday, August 1, 2024, click here.