In Photos: Thousands pack Rafah streets for funeral of top Hamas commanders

Thousands of mourners packed the streets of Rafah to pay tribute to the Hamas commanders Muhammad Abu Shammala, Raed al-Attar and Muhammad Barhoum. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Thousands of mourners packed the streets of Rafah to pay tribute to the Hamas commanders Muhammad Abu Shammala, Raed al-Attar and Muhammad Barhoum. (Photo: Dan Cohen)

Last night, Israel dropped several one-ton bombs on a house in Rafah, killing three top Hamas commanders, Muhammad Abu Shammala, Raed al-Attar and Muhammad Barhoum. The airstrikes also killed Hasan Hussein Younis, 75, his wife Amal Ibrahim Younis, Ahmad Nasser Kallab, 17, Nathira Kallab, Aisha Attiya, and children Abdullah Kallab and Youssef Kallab.

Mourners carry a body from the al-Awda mosque to the East Rafah cemetery. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Mourners carry a body from the al-Awda mosque to the East Rafah cemetery. (Photo: Dan Cohen)

Thousands packed the streets of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip today to mourn in the largest funeral gathering since the assassination of the Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari in 2012. Drone strikes could be heard in the distance and Israeli flares were launched above the cemetery.

Mourners shovel and push dirt by hand into a grave. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Mourners shovel and push dirt by hand into a grave. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
A mourner passes a brick that will serve as a temporary grave marker. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
A mourner passes a brick that will serve as a temporary grave marker. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Professor Abu Neqira speaks at the funeral. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Professor Abu Neqira speaks at the funeral. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
A group of dejected mourners sit over a fresh grave. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
A group of dejected mourners sit over a fresh grave. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Mourners grieve after the funerals. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
Mourners grieve after the funerals. (Photo: Dan Cohen)
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Yeah this will sure make peace. Wake up palestinians, ICC is the only way!

Israel has lost, is lost and will keep losing until the Palestinians are free in their own lands.

Whoever thought that Israel could break the Unity Government by slaughtering Palestinians was seriously WRONG.

Long live Palestine.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.611791

“Assassinations of Hamas commanders could make Netanyahu the hero
Such successes sink both the group’s morale and ability to carry out operations from Gaza. They’re also popular with Israelis suffering in the south. ”

Delighted for Jon and his neighbours who have been having trouble sleeping recently.

I see pictures of dejected young men. Most probably enraged by the deaths of innocent people, children, the elderly, by Israel. Many will join militant groups to avenge the deaths of their loved ones.

They have every right to feel anger, and if Israel is going to suffer the consequences of their slaughter in Gaza some time from now, I would say they truly deserved it.

High/mid level echelon of Hamas military wing hit. I wonder if the political leadership is next?