Thousands march in Rantisi's funeral procession

Thousands of Palestinians thronged the streets of Gaza City today in the funeral procession for slain Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi.

Israel killed Rantisi and two of his bodyguards on Saturday in an air strike on his car as it drove near his house in the Sheik Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza.

Hamas supporters chanting “God is great” and “revenge, revenge” threw flowers at the three men’s stretchers as they carried them from the hospital for the funeral procession through the streets of Gaza.

Rantisi was covered in a green Hamas flag with his face exposed.

He had a green Hamas headband around his forehead.

His bodyguards, who were badly mangled in the explosion, were completely covered by green flags.

Outside Rantisi’s house today a large green and blue mourning tent was set up and his brothers and children stood nearby greeting mourners.

“You got what you’ve always dreamed of Abu Mohammad, you won,” read graffiti on a nearby wall, referring to Rantisi by his nickname.

Quotes from Rantisi covered the wall of his house and green Hamas flags and black mourning flags hung from nearby homes.

“Hamas will move ahead and will continue the resistance march,” said local Hamas leader Ahmad Sahar, a friend of Rantisi’s.