Hezbollah Refutes Claims that Nasrallah Was Buried 'in a Secret Location’

A man points to a television set displaying an image of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with a black stripe for mourning during a broadcast from the private Lebanese station NBN in Beirut on September 28, 2024. (JOSEPH EID / AFP)
A man points to a television set displaying an image of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with a black stripe for mourning during a broadcast from the private Lebanese station NBN in Beirut on September 28, 2024. (JOSEPH EID / AFP)
TT

Hezbollah Refutes Claims that Nasrallah Was Buried 'in a Secret Location’

A man points to a television set displaying an image of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with a black stripe for mourning during a broadcast from the private Lebanese station NBN in Beirut on September 28, 2024. (JOSEPH EID / AFP)
A man points to a television set displaying an image of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with a black stripe for mourning during a broadcast from the private Lebanese station NBN in Beirut on September 28, 2024. (JOSEPH EID / AFP)

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denied reports on Friday that the party’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was temporarily buried in a secret place.
In a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, a Hezbollah source described as “rumors” the allegations that the party's Secretary-General was “temporarily buried” due to the difficulty of holding a public funeral because of "Israeli threats”. 
The source confirmed that no decision has yet been made regarding the date and location of the burial.
Earlier, the Agence France Presse quoted what it said was a “Hezbollah” source as saying that Nasrallah has been temporarily buried in a secret location fearing Israel would target a large funeral.
It said the move was taken until the circumstances allowed for a public funeral.
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut last week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the killing of Nasrallah was a “historic turning point”.
On 23 September 2024, Israel began a series of airstrikes in Lebanon as part of the ongoing Israel–Hezbollah conflict. Since then, Israel's attacks have killed over 800 people, injured more than 5,000, and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians.
The attacks are the deadliest in Lebanon since the end of the Lebanese Civil War.

 



Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
TT

Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)

Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever", provided Israel does not impose new conditions.

"The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions," Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday.

Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement.

A Hamas leader told AFP on Saturday that talks had made "significant and important progress" in recent days.

"Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon," he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

"Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalized before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's new conditions."