A mourning and funeral ceremony was held in Doha, Qatar, on Friday for Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran on Wednesday.
Haniyeh's body was laid to rest at a cemetery in Lusail, north of the Qatari capital, following the prayers.
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Haya, and thousands of residents attended the ceremony, braving temperatures that exceeded 45 degrees Celsius.
Many residents condemned the assassination and expressed support for the Palestinian national liberation movement.
"Obviously, this is a crime against humanity to assassinate somebody who you are supposed to be negotiating with for a ceasefire. Israel has absolutely no respect for international law; they never have. I genuinely feel that Israel has lost all public opinion in the world," said Omar, a Doha resident.
Many Qataris also accused the United States of being an accomplice of Israel, saying it has long backed Israel on the Palestine-Israel issue and has been the main factor contributing to regional unrest.
"Actually, Israel gets all this support, especially from the USA. So the USA is the first responsible for what has happened in Palestine, for killing of all this number of kids, women, and men. So yes, the USA is the responsible number 1 for what is happening in Palestine," said Abdul, another Doha resident.
Haniyeh's body was transported from Tehran to Doha on Thursday. He and other members of the Hamas Politburo had long been based in the Qatari capital.
Assassinated Hamas leader Haniyeh buried in Qatar
Assassinated Hamas leader Haniyeh buried in Qatar
Assassinated Hamas leader Haniyeh buried in Qatar
The lineup for the 2025 Spring Festival movie season was officially revealed on Wednesday with six highly anticipated films set to hit the big screens in China on the first day of the Spring Festival on January 29.
The six films -- Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, Ne Zha 2, Detective Chinatown 1900, Operation Leviathan, Boonie Bears: Future Return, and The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero -- span a range of genres and feature impressive creative teams.
Since pre-sales began on Jan 19, advanced sales for the holiday line-up were the fastest ever to reach 100 million yuan (about 13.8 million U.S. dollars).
At a launch ceremony for the Spring Festival movie season, held at the China National Film Museum in Beijing, the cast of each film highlighted the unique selling points of their movie.
"The viewers will not only uncover the hidden points of plot from the first installment of Creation of the Gods, but also get a real sense of the characters and their evolving relationships through a brand new theme," said Wuershan, director of the movie Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force.
Adapted from the classic Chinese martial arts novel by Jin Yong, The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero captures the essence of Chinese chivalry with its portrayal of selfless heroism.
described it as a story with stirring heroism.
"The soul-stirring and awe-inspiring heroic spirit conveyed by the film will be touching, memorable and romantic as well," said Tsui Hark, who directed the film.
The animated film Ne Zha 2 continues the adventures of hero Ne Zha -- a beloved Chinese mythological figure -- with a focus on comedy and spectacular visual effects.
Retaining its signature style, the popular detective series Detective Chinatown 1900 promises twists and turns with big production values and glittering special effects.
As China's first film about nuclear submarines, Operation Leviathan presents a broader underwater battlefield and more complex combat scenarios, offering a unique perspective on naval warfare.
The Great Hero -- the last chapter of the "Boonie Bears" sci-fi series -- combines extreme romance and bold imagination to take viewers on a futuristic adventure.
Different discount and subsidy policies for moviegoers during the Spring Festival were also announced at the launch event with local film authorities across the country organizing special events and promotions to encourage cinema visits.
Supporting institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China UnionPay, Maoyan Entertainment, and Taopiaopia, are expected to provide at least 600 million yuan (about 83 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies for moviegoers during the holiday season.
Six new films set to hit China's big screens on Chinese New Year's Day