Thousands of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have held a funeral ceremony to pay tribute to General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), who was assassinated in US airstrikes in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

The Palestinians converged on Unknown Soldier's Square in Gaza City on Saturday, extending their deepest condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian nation as well as Arab and Muslim nations over General Soleimani’s assassination, stressing a harsh revenge awaits those responsible for his targeted killing.

They also burned or trampled on US and Israeli flags. Representatives from various Palestinian resistance groups were in attendance as well.

A young Palestinian man burns an Israeli flag during a funeral ceremony for late Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), in Gaza City on January 4, 2020. (Photo by Palestine al-Yawm news agency)

Islamic Jihad leader Ahmed al-Modallal said the top Iranian general directly supported the Palestinian resistance front, and he was in charge of providing logistical supplies to Palestinian resistance groups.

“The assassination of General Soleimani increases our determination and adherence to resistance in the face of forces of arrogance. (The Palestinian) resistance movement will stand committed to the blood of their martyrs,” Modallal added.

He then slammed attempts by certain Arab states to normalize diplomatic relations with the Israeli regime, stating that the United States aims to rob Arab and Muslim nations of their wealth and capabilities.

“It is shameful that several Arab countries have opened up their arms to embrace the axis of evil and have deployed troops to kill our people,” Modallal pointed out.

Palestinians walk over US and Israeli flags during a funeral ceremony for late Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), in Gaza City on January 4, 2020. (Photo by Palestine al-Yawm news agency)

Separately, top Hamas official Ismail Radwan underlined that General Soleimani’s assassination will unite anti-US peoples to stand against the occupation of Arab and Muslim territories.

Rdwan then censured the killing of the top Iranian commander, terming his martyrdom as a great loss for Palestine and the axis of resistance.

He stressed that Washington has made a miscalculation by assassinating General Soleimani, adding that resistance groups will continue the path of their martyrs until Palestine is fully liberated.

Furthermore, Abu Mujahid, spokesmen for the al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades – the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, said the Palestinian nation severely condemns the assassination of the prominent Iranian general, stressing his unswerving support for Palestinian resistance movements on all fronts.

A young Palestinian man holds a picture of late Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) during a funeral ceremony in his commemoration in Gaza City on January 4, 2020. (Photo by Palestine al-Yawm news agency)

Maher Mazhar, a senior official of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), also said General Soleimani’s assassination is a major failure for the axis of evil, spearheaded by the US, since it could not break the spirit of resistance.