A funeral was conducted in Beirut, Lebanon, for Salih El Aruri, Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Chairman, and six fellow Hamas members. They lost their lives in an assassination attempt on January 2. The funeral took place at the cemetery outside the Shatila Refugee Camp in Beirut and drew attendance from hundreds of individuals.

El Aruri, 57, held a pivotal role within Hamas, serving as the deputy to Ismail Haniyeh, the Chief of the Hamas Political Bureau. He played a foundational role in establishing Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. After 15 years in an Israeli prison, El Aruri resided in Lebanon. Earlier, before the conflict commenced on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had issued threats against El Aruri. The late Hamas figure had asserted that Hamas wouldn’t engage in negotiations regarding a prisoner exchange until the Gaza conflict concluded.