West Bank - Recent

Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced a day of mourning and flag lowering on Wednesday following the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

The president ordered that all flags in official Palestinian institutions across the West Bank governorates be lowered to half-mast to mourn Haniyeh. Abbas described the assassination as a dangerous evolution, while various Palestinian factions condemned the assassination.

Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed early Wednesday when their residence was hit in Tehran, according to a statement published on Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official news outlet Sepah News.

The Islamic Hamas movement confirmed the death of its leader, saying Haniyeh was assassinated by an Israeli attack in Iran.

The Palestinian factions organized protests in the city centers of the West Bank to strongly condemn the assassination of Haniyeh and call on all Palestinians to unite to confront the challenges.

In response to the call of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, a general strike spread throughout the West Bank to condemn the assassination of the Hamas leader. It emphasized that this assassination, described as 'cowardly', would not break the will and steadfastness of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinians from various backgrounds emphasized that the assassination of the Hamas leader will not weaken their resolve but will increase their determination to stand firm, defy, and confront all challenges imposed on them.

Shotlist:
Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, West Bank - Recent:
1. Mukataa compound;
2. Various of national flag of Palestine;
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Wasel Abu Yusef, member, Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (starting with shot 2):
"The entire Palestinian people and all Palestinian factions mourn Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas Politburo Chief, who was brutally killed by the Israeli government in Teheran. The Israeli government's ongoing intent and approach of committing crimes within the framework of a ten-month-long war of extermination have resulted in the loss of more children, women, and civilians, alongside widespread destruction.";
4. Palestinians marching in streets carrying Hamas flag, Palestinian national flag, Fatah flag;
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Fattah Dawla, Fatah spokesperson (starting with shot 4):
"The Palestinian people, national forces, and all factions took these actions to emphasize that this assassination renews our determination: firstly, to strengthen internal Palestinian unity and unify our discourse, approach, and project in confronting the occupation; and secondly, to increase our people's resolve to stand firm and confront.";
6. Mustafa Barghouti, secretary general, co-founder, Palestinian National Initiative:
"Israel committed a heinous and brutal political murder and assassination, believing that it would break the will of the Palestinian people. However, what has transpired confirms what Palestinians already know: Israel has sent a clear message to every Palestinian—man, woman, youth, and child—that the path to freedom lies only through struggle and resistance.";
7. Various of closed shops, empty streets;
8. Amin Shoman, member, Factions Coordination Committee (ending with shot 9):
"The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces declared today a general and comprehensive strike in all Palestinian governorates to condemn and reject the cowardly assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.";
9. Traffic.

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