Miss tery
04-18-04, 10:35 AM
Tens of thousands bury Rantisi in Gaza
By Saud Abu Ramadan
United Press International
Published 4/18/2004 8:59 AM
GAZA, April 18 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of Palestinians attended Sunday the funeral of Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz Rantisi, who was assassinated during an Israeli air strike late Saturday in Gaza city.
Crowds of Palestinians marched through Gaza city holding Palestinian and green flags and pictures of Rantisi, as they headed to the hospital to collect his body to burial.
The marchers gathered at the entrance of the hospital while shouting "Allah Akbar" "Revenge, revenge, oh Qassam revenge."
As soon as Rantisi's body appeared, tens of Hamas followers rushed to carry it. Rantisi's body was wrapped with a green Hamas flag with the words "there is no God except one God" written on it.
Rantisi's face was unveiled, while the marchers turned into waves of mourners who called for immediate retaliation.
The mourners toured the city's streets while masked militants who were marching at ahead of his body fired bullets in the air as a sign of protest and chanted anti-Israeli slogans that pledged for a harsh response.
The mourners then headed to Rantisi's house in Al-Naser neighborhood, to allow his family a last farewell. There, a large number of Rantisi's supporters were waiting for him.
His two bodyguards, who were killed in Saturday's raid along with Rantisi, were also buried.
By Saud Abu Ramadan
United Press International
Published 4/18/2004 8:59 AM
GAZA, April 18 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of Palestinians attended Sunday the funeral of Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz Rantisi, who was assassinated during an Israeli air strike late Saturday in Gaza city.
Crowds of Palestinians marched through Gaza city holding Palestinian and green flags and pictures of Rantisi, as they headed to the hospital to collect his body to burial.
The marchers gathered at the entrance of the hospital while shouting "Allah Akbar" "Revenge, revenge, oh Qassam revenge."
As soon as Rantisi's body appeared, tens of Hamas followers rushed to carry it. Rantisi's body was wrapped with a green Hamas flag with the words "there is no God except one God" written on it.
Rantisi's face was unveiled, while the marchers turned into waves of mourners who called for immediate retaliation.
The mourners toured the city's streets while masked militants who were marching at ahead of his body fired bullets in the air as a sign of protest and chanted anti-Israeli slogans that pledged for a harsh response.
The mourners then headed to Rantisi's house in Al-Naser neighborhood, to allow his family a last farewell. There, a large number of Rantisi's supporters were waiting for him.
His two bodyguards, who were killed in Saturday's raid along with Rantisi, were also buried.