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Palestinians Pay Last Respects To Rantissi, Demand Justice
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Palestinian mourners carry the body of Rantissi (AFP)
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By
Mohammad Yassin, Adel Zaarab, IOL Correspondents
GAZA
CITY, April 18 (IslamOnline.net) - Some 300,000 of Palestinians took
to the streets of Gaza Sunday, April 18, to pay their last respects to
slain Hamas leader Abdelaziz Rantissi and two of his associates.
Braving
Israeli F-16s overhead, the mourners carried the coffin, which began
its journey from Al-Shifaa hospital to Rantissi's home in Al-Redwan
district of Gaza City.
Rantissi,
whose body was draped in a green Hamas flag and covered with flowers, was
assassinated Saturday, April 17, along with two other
Palestinians in an Israeli air strike.
The
cortege stopped at Rantissi's home to allow his family to pay their
last respects to him.
The
marchers then headed for Al-Umri mosque, where they performed the
funeral prayers.
The
56-year-old Rantissi was then buried in the city's martyrs cemetery
where Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh
Ahmad Yassin was laid to rest.
In
a military parade, fighters from all the main Palestinian resistance
factions also joined the cortege, unleashing volleys of gunfire into
the air.
Hamas
followers called for Rantissi's killing to be avenged.
"[Israeli
Premier Ariel] Sharon should not be rejoicing, the doctor [Rantissi]
wanted to die as a martyr," one speaker said.
Hamas
military wing has threatened a
"volcano of revenge" against the Israeli
occupation.
Dozens
of women also took part in the procession, many dressed in black and
wrapped in Hamas flags.
"If
I could get hold of Sharon I would kill him. I would rip him to pieces
with my own teeth," said a 50-year-old housewife.
"Rantissi
will never die, he will be here forever. If he dies hundreds of
thousands more Rantissis will replace him," she added.
The
main streets of Gaza were closed during the procession with shops and
schools closed as part of an unofficial general strike.
Rafah
residents also held a symbolic funeral for Rantissi, calling for an
immediate retaliation.
Great
Loss
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A sea of Palestinians pay their last respects to slain Rantissi (AFP)
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IslamOnline.net
correspondent took the pulse of the Palestinian street following the
Israeli crime.
Mohammad
Abu Rida, 45, from the Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis, asserted that
the Palestinians will not throw the towel despite the incessant
Israeli aggressions.
"Though
it is breaking our hearts, we are pretty sure that Islam will prevail
at the end of the day."
"Undoubtedly,
it is a great loss for all of us; but the martyrdom of our leaders
paves the way for victory as they paid the ultimate sacrifice for the
sake of God," he added.
Abdullah
Abu Luli, 25 from Gaza, said the assassination of Palestinian leaders
is a source of pride for all Palestinians.
"The
Israelis must be stupid it they think that the liquidation of our
leaders will break our staunch will…It is nothing but illusions. We
all follow in the footsteps of Rantissi and Sheikh Yassin," he
added.
"We
stand now at a crossroad for Islam, which will eventually debunk the
myth of the occupation."
Um
Ali Barod, a 50-year-old housewife from Al-Nusirat refugee camp, also
paid homage to Rantissi and lamented the deplorable situation in the
occupied territories.
"Words
can not describe our circumstances. We are deeply shocked at the
killing of Rantissi, but we are sure that Hams will retaliate,"
she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Palestinian
mothers will give birth to other heroes, who will take the torch of
freedom."
At
least 15 newborn babies have been named
after Sheikh Yassin in an unmistakable message to the
Israeli occupation.
Abdullah
Rashwan, a 35-year-old school teacher, sounded optimistic, saying the
assassination of Palestinian leaders was a prelude for victory.
"They
think that the occupation will undermine the resistance: They are
wrong. History tells us that hard times stoke up resistance and we are
confident that we will prevail."
Hamas
has put its fighters on maximum alert until they carry out
"ground-shaking operations against the criminal entity
[Israel]".
It
said in a statement Sunday, April 18, that it had appointed a
successor to Rantissi but his name would be kept under
wraps for fear he might be targeted by Israel.
The
assassination of Rantissi has sparked a
chorus of international condemnation with the exception
of the United States, which said Israel "has the right to defend
itself."
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