Hamas revives public displays of flags and slogans at funerals

The reappearance of Hamas and its Al-Qassam Brigades flags at the funerals of members killed by Israel marks a notable shift in the group's public messaging. This display, which includes armed men attending ceremonies and participants chanting slogans like "Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews... October 7 will return," had been absent for a significant period, last seen during the prisoner exchange agreements in early 2025 before Israel resumed its military campaign.

This renewed public display follows the funeral of Walid Haniyeh, a field commander and relative of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran. The funeral occurred on June 26, a day activists had designated for protests against Hamas over Gaza's humanitarian situation. Hamas reportedly worked to thwart these protests, which ultimately failed to gain significant traction.

Israeli media has drawn attention to these recurring scenes, launching incitement campaigns against Hamas and the Gaza Strip. The timing of these displays is particularly sensitive, occurring as Israeli military operations continue on a smaller scale despite a declared ceasefire in October 2025. The displays also follow a period where Israeli forces reportedly used similar public appearances to identify and target Hamas leaders and members.

In response to these developments, Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with four Hamas sources in the Gaza Strip. They confirmed that the movement's leadership in Gaza had decided to resume displaying flags and chanting "jihadist" slogans at the funerals of members killed by Israel. This decision was reportedly circulated across all areas under Hamas's control.

According to the sources, the primary objective behind this decision is to reaffirm the Hamas leadership's message that the movement remains present and resilient. They aim to counter narratives suggesting Hamas can be defeated through military force or by external plans that bypass an agreement with Hamas regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the broader Palestinian issue. The sources emphasized that Hamas seeks to assert its indispensability in any future political settlement.