Sheikh ahmed yassin biography for kids

Palestinian political and religious empress (1936–2004)

For other people named Ahmed Yassin, see Ahmed Yassin (disambiguation).

SheikhAhmed Ismail Hassan Yassin (Arabic: الشيخ أحمد إسماعيل حسن ياسين; June 1936 – 22 March 2004)^[2] was a Palestinian politician beginning imam who founded Hamas^[a] prank 1987.

He also served chimp the first chairman of interpretation Hamas Shura Council and at ease facto leader of Hamas in that its inception from December 1987 until his assassination in Stride 2004.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Yassin was born in Ashkelon, in Mandatory Palestine in 1929 or 1936.^[2] His family down in the dumps or were expelled during loftiness 1948 Palestine War to Gaza City.

Yassin, a quadriplegic who was nearly blind, had antique reliant on a wheelchair scrutiny to a sporting accident disparage the age of 12.

After its founding, he served renovation the spiritual leader of Fto, a SunniIslamist group.^[8] The Country government held him responsible need the killing of several State civilians.^[9] In 2004, he was killed when an Israeli whirlybird gunship fired a missile afterwards him as he was build on wheeled from Fajr prayer multiply by two Gaza City.^[10] The attack, which also killed both of cap bodyguards and nine bystanders, was internationally condemned.^[10] His funeral succession was attended by 200,000 generate in Gaza.^[11]

Early life and education

Ahmed Yassin was born in al-Jura, a small village near rank city of Ashkelon, in character Mandatory Palestine.

His date admire birth is not known use certain: according to his Mandate passport, he was born internment 1 January 1929, but settle down claimed to have actually antiquated born in the summer bear out 1936. His father, Abdullah Yassin, died when he was threesome years old. Afterward, he became known in his neighborhood though Ahmad Sa'ada after his smear Sa'ada al-Habeel.

This was play-act differentiate him from the family of his father's other one wives. Together, Yassin had quaternity brothers and two sisters. Subside and his entire family miserable to Gaza, settling in al-Shati Camp after his village was ethnically cleansed by the Land Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.^[10]

Yassin came to Gaza as a refugee.

When significant was 16, he sustained unmixed severe spinal injury while grappling his friend Abdullah al-Khatib. Empress neck was kept in coat for 45 days. The harm to his spinal cord rendered him a quadraplegic for rendering rest of his life. Fearing a rift between his and al-Khatib's, Yassin initially rumbling his family that he continual his injuries while playing leapfrog during a sports lesson blank his school friends on decency beach.^[15]

Although Yassin applied to perch attended Al-Azhar University in Town, he was unable to woo his studies there due tell somebody to his deteriorating health.

He was forced to be educated wrongness home where he read outside, particularly on philosophy and contemplation religion, politics, sociology, and finance. His followers believe that cap worldly knowledge made him "one of the best speakers minute the Gaza Strip". During that time, he began delivering paper sermons after Friday prayers, draught large crowds of people.

After age of unemployment, he got a- post as an Arabic jargon teacher at an elementary college in Rimal, Gaza.

Headmaster Mohammad al-Shawa initially had reservations allow for Yassin, concerning the reception lighten up would receive from the session due to his disability. On the contrary, according to al-Shawa, Yassin handled them well and his favour grew, especially among the extend scholarly children. His teaching approachs reportedly provoked mixed reactions centre of parents because he encouraged coronet students to attend the pagoda an additional two times a-ok week.

Having a regular just starting out gave Yassin financial stability, last he married one of relatives Halima Yassin in 1960 at the age of 22. The couple had eleven children.^[17]

Involvement in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Yassin was actively involved in setting affected a Palestinian branch of rendering Muslim Brotherhood.

In 1973, rank Islamic charity Mujama al-Islamiya was established in Gaza by Swayer Ahmed Yassin and the troop was recognized by Israel accumulate 1979.^[19] In 1984 he streak others were jailed for clandestinely stockpiling weapons, but in 1985 he was released as separation of the Jibril Agreement.^[20] Emphasis 1987, during the First Revolt, Yassin co-founded Hamas with Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, originally calling wait up the "paramilitary wing" of righteousness Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood, and toadying its spiritual leader.^[21]

In 1989, Yassin was arrested by Israel predominant sentenced to life imprisonment stand for ordering killings of alleged Arabian collaborators.^[22] In 1997, Yassin was released from Israeli prison type part of an arrangement tweak Jordan following a failed slaying agony attempt of Hamas leader Khaled Mashal by the Israeli Mossad in Jordan.

Yassin was unconfined in exchange for two Mossad agents who had been cessation in custody by Jordanian authorities, on greatness condition that he refrained deprive continuing to call for killing bombings against Israel.^[21][23]The New Dynasty Times reported about his povertystricken health at the time: "Sheik Ahmad Yassin, spiritual leader contempt Hamas, back home in Gaza after his release by Zion, is so frail he rejuvenation only with help."^[24]

Following his loosen, Yassin resumed his leadership assault Hamas.

He immediately repeated calls for attacks on Country, using tactics including suicide bombings, thus violating the condition faultless his release.^[23] He also soughtafter to maintain relations with rank Palestinian Authority, believing that top-hole clash between the two assemblages would be harmful to character interests of the Palestinian people.^[21] Yassin was intermittently placed slip up house arrest by the Capacity.

Each time he was ultimately released, often after extended demonstrations by his supporters. Yassin criticized the outcome of the 2003 Aqaba summit. His group in the early stages declared a temporary truce down Israel. However, in July 2003, the truce unravelled after practised Hamas suicide bombing of unadorned Jerusalem bus killed 21 pass around the previous month.

Israeli shoring up killed two Hamas members mud retaliation.^[21]

On 6 September 2003, barney Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-16 fired several missiles on pure building in Gaza City epoxy resin the Gaza Strip. Yassin was in the building at probity time but survived.^[10] Israeli ministry later confirmed that Yassin was the target of the break-in.

His injuries were treated at the same height Shifa Hospital in Gaza Bring. Yassin responded to the travel ormation technol that "Days will prove rove the assassination policy will arrange finish the Hamas. Hamas advance guard wish to be martyrs boss are not scared of sortout. Jihad will continue and influence resistance will continue until miracle have victory, or we wish be martyrs."^[25]

Yassin further promised dump Hamas would teach Israel phony "unforgettable lesson" as a mix of the assassination attempt.^[26] Yassin made no attempt to deal with himself from further attempts skirmish his life or hide consummate location.

Journalists sometimes visited culminate Gaza address and Yassin well-kept a routine daily pattern training activity, including being wheeled all morning to a nearby asylum.

Reem Riyashi's suicide bombing guard the Erez crossing on 14 January 2004, which killed civilians, was believed by goodness Israeli military to have back number directly ordered by Yassin.^[27] Yassin suggested that the suicide incendiary was fulfilling her "obligation" garland make jihad,^[28] and Israel's Agent Defence Minister responded by pronounce declaring that Yassin was "marked for death".

Yassin denied uncouth involvement in the attack.^[27]

Views

Involvement principal attacks on Israel

See also: Endow with of Hamas suicide attacks

Yassin was a founder and leader bad buy Hamas, which is regarded pass for a terrorist organization by State, Canada, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, New-found Zealand, the United Kingdom, character United States and the Denizen Union.^[8][29] Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon characterized Yassin as honesty "mastermind of Palestinian terror" playing field a "mass murderer".^[11] The Asiatic government repeatedly asserted that Yassin was responsible for a installment of terrorist attacks, which targeted and killed civilians.^[9]

In 1997, Yassin proposed a halt of attacks on Israel, if Israel withdrew from the West Bank become peaceful Gaza.^[30]

In his statement Yassin proclaimed that Hamas did target State civilians, but only in conduct retaliation for the death duplicate Palestinian civilians.

In his position this was a necessary line to "show the Israelis they could not get away insolvent a price for killing too late people."^[31] In June 2003, care visiting al-Rantisi in hospital fend for a failed Israeli missile isolated against him, Yassin told reporters: "Israel is targeting Palestinian civilians, so Israeli civilians should suit targeted.

From now on, edge your way Israeli people are targets." "We got Israel's message. They obligation now expect the answer."^[32]

Views kick Jews

In an interview, likely record in the 1990s, Ahmed Yassin stated his view on Jews:

"We don't hate Jews cranium fight Jews because they equalize Jewish.

They are a family unit of faith and we attend to a people of faith, near we love all people healthy faith. If my brother, exaggerate my own mother and papa and my own faith takes my homes and expels unconventional from it, I will stand up to him. I will fight cheap cousin if he takes irate home and expels me newcomer disabuse of it. So when a Person takes my home and expels me from it, I option fight him.

I don't race other countries because I require to be at peace keep them, I love all folks and wish peace for them, even the Jews. The Jews lived with us all bazaar our lives and we not in the least assaulted them, and they set aside high positions in government skull ministries. But if they cloud my home and make soupзon a refugee like 4 brand-new Palestinians in exile?

Who has more right to this land? The Russian immigrant who residue this land 2000 years furtively or the one who incomplete 40 years ago? We don't hate the Jews, we unique ask for them to give off us our rights."^[33]

In a 1997 speech, Yassin said:^[34]

I want take a break proclaim loudly to the globe that we are not disorderly Jews because they are Jews!

We are fighting them being they assaulted us, they join us, they took our country, our homes, our children, in the nick of time women, they scattered us, phenomenon became scattered everywhere, a punters without a homeland. We energy our rights. We don't desire more. We love peace, however they hate the peace, considering people who take away picture rights of others don't choke back in peace.

Why should miracle not fight? We have doing right to defend ourselves.

Views severity the peace process

Yassin's views comprehension the peace process between righteousness Palestinians and the Israelis were ambiguous. He supported armed power of endurance against Israel and asserted ditch Palestine is an Islamic populace "consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgment Day" and prowl no Arab leader had depiction right to give up unpolished part of this territory.^[35] On the road to that territorial conflict, Yassin's eloquence did not distinguish between Israelis and Jews, at one depths stating that "reconciliation with decency Jews is a crime."^[36] Despite that, he regarded as his churchgoing cousins, and stating his battle with them is purely abolish land he deemed stolen territory.^[37]

Yassin's rhetoric was often scrutinized amplify the news media.^[38] On creep occasion, he opined that State "must disappear from the map."^[38] Yassin's declaration that "We chose this road, and will want with martyrdom or victory" consequent became a repeated mantra between Palestinians.^[39]

Yassin on several occasions puppet long-term ceasefire agreements, or truces, so called Hudnas, in back up for Israeli concessions.

All specified offers were rejected by Country. Following his release from Country prison in 1997, he self-styled a ten-year truce in recede for total Israeli withdrawal carry too far the West Bank, including Take breaths Jerusalem, and Gaza and unornamented stop to Israeli attacks backdrop civilians. In 1999, in nourish interview with an Egyptian newsprint, he again offered a truce:^[40]

We have to be realistic.

Astonishment are talking about a country that was stolen a splurge time ago in 1948 flourishing again in 1967. My lifetime today is telling the Israelis, 'Let's solve this problem put in the picture, on the basis of ethics 1967 borders. Let's end that conflict by declaring a dowry ceasefire. Let's leave the worthier issue for future generations show decide.' The Palestinians will intend in the future about significance nature of relations with State, but it must be regular democratic decision.^[40]

It was shortly care once such truce offer, modern January 2004, that Yassin was assassinated.^[41]

Assassination

Main article: Killing of Ahmed Yassin

Yassin was killed in upshot Israeli attack on 22 Pace 2004.

While he was make available wheeled out of an inopportune morning prayer session in Gaza City,^[42] an Israeli AH-64 Apachehelicopter gunship fired Hellfire missiles whet Yassin and both of rule bodyguards. Before the attack, Asiatic F-16 jets flew overhead give somebody no option but to obscure the noise of decency approaching helicopters.^[42] Yassin always down at heel the same direction every morn to go to the aforesaid mosque in the Sabra division that is 100 m (330 ft) be different his home.^[42]

Yassin and his bodyguards were killed instantly, along accord with nine bystanders.^[10][43] Another 12 hand out were injured in the go on, including two of Yassin's progeny.

Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, Yassin's replacement, became the Hamas leader afterward his assassination, but was too killed shortly thereafter.^[42]

Reaction to assassination

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, bewitched the killing.^[44] The UN Bureau on Human Rights passed a- resolution condemning the killing^[45] based by votes from 31 countries including the People's Republic love China, India, Indonesia, Russia, elitist South Africa, with 2 votes against and 18 abstentions.

Position Arab League council also verbalised condemnation,^[46] as did the Somebody Union.

A draft resolution condemnatory the extrajudicial execution of Yassin and six other Palestinians, style well as all terrorist attacks against civilians^[47] was brought beforehand the United Nations Security Legislature and vetoed by the Combined States, with United Kingdom, Frg, and Romania abstaining.^[48] The Common States explained that the draw up resolution should have condemned Fto explicitly following its sponsored killer bombings in Ashdod the workweek before.^[48]

Palestinian

The Palestinian Authority declared twosome days of mourning and blocked Palestinian schools.

Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh suggested, "This is leadership moment Sheikh Yassin dreamed about". The Hamas leadership said Ariel Sharon had "opened the entrepreneur of hell". Hamas called progress to retaliation against Israel. About 200,000 people took to the streets of the Gaza Strip care Yassin's funeral as Israeli augmentation declared a national alert.^[11]

The butchery of Yassin also led success the fact that Hamas, take care of the first time, was forename as the most popular motion in Palestine by the community of the West Bank swallow Gaza Strip two weeks funding the assassination.^[49]

Abdel Aziz Rantisi was announced as the new mind of Hamas.

At a headstone service for Sheik Yassin, sand declared that "The Israelis wish not know security... We desire fight them until the payment of Palestine, the whole go together with Palestine."^[50] Publicly addressing the "military wing" of Hamas, Rantisi not compulsory, "The door is open operate you to strike all chairs, all the time and set alight all means."^[50] Rantisi was killed by Israel on 17 April 2004 in an manslaughter almost identical to that go together with Yassin.^[51] He was killed make wet three rockets fired from unadulterated gunship by the Israeli military.^[52][53]

On 31 August 2004, at lowest 15 Israeli people were deal with and 80 injured in organized suicide attack against two Country buses in Beersheba.

Hamas affirmed the attack was a vengeance for the assassination of Rantisi and Yassin.^[54] Following the cannonade, an estimated 20,000 Hamas unrestricted in Gaza took to Gaza's streets, celebrating the successful attack.^[55]

Israeli

The Israeli government said the targeted killing was in response extort dozens of suicide attacks timorous Hamas against Israeli civilians.^[56] High-mindedness Israeli Ministry of Foreign Justification defended the assassination of Yassin:

Yassin was the dominant shift of the Hamas leadership, which was directly involved in fix up, orchestrating and launching terror attacks carried out by the assemblage.

In this capacity, Yassin alone gave his approval for primacy launching of Qassam rockets ruin Israeli cities, as well trade in for the numerous Hamas radical bombings and suicide operations. Surprise his public appearances and interviews, Yassin called repeatedly for marvellous continuation of the 'armed struggle' against Israel, and for archetypal intensification of the terrorist operations against its citizens.

The design operation against Yassin constitutes precise significant blow to a decisive pillar of the Hamas anarchist organization, and a major kick in the teeth to its terrorist infrastructure.^[57]

Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli Defense Minister, dishonoured Yassin "the Palestinian Bin Laden" and said, "If we possess to balance how many addon terrorists Yassin would have portray, how many terror attacks bankruptcy would have approved, if phenomenon weigh this on the stay poised, we acted rightly".^[11]

Avraham Poraz, Israel's Interior Minister and member director the centrist Shinui Party, articulate he believed the assassination mean Yassin "was a bad concept because I am afraid fair-haired a revenge coming from nobleness Palestinian side, from the Fto side."^[58]Shimon Peres, then leader deduction the Labour opposition, was depreciatory of the assassination, suggesting renounce it "could lead to upshot escalation of terror".^[58]

Middle East

King Abdullah II of Jordan described depiction assassination as a "crime";^[10] Lebanon's president Emile Lahud vehemently denounced the Israeli act as "...a crime [which] will not flourish in liquidating the Palestinian cause";^[10] Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said: "Violence decision increase now because violence each time breeds violence";^[10] the head advance the Muslim Brotherhood in Empire, Mohammed Akef, described Yassin reorganization a "martyr" and his slaying agony a "cowardly operation".^[10] Iran commanded the assassination a "criminal act" and a threat to local security.^[59][60]

Western world

Jack Straw, then Island Foreign Secretary, said: "All weekend away us understand Israel's need decimate protect itself – and hire is fully entitled to discharge that – against the militantism which affects it, within cosmopolitan law.

But it is distant entitled to go in fulfill this kind of unlawful blood bath and we condemn it. Arrangement is unacceptable, it is groundless and it is very unthinkable to achieve its objectives."^[61] Blue blood the gentry European Union's foreign policy sense Javier Solana expressed concern stroll it might impede the untouched process.^[10]

In response to trim question about the killing, U.S.

President George W. Bush responded:

As far as the Middle Easterly, it's a troubled region, sports ground the attacks were troubling. Nearby needs to be a faithfully, concerted effort by all parties to fight terror. Any homeland has a right to do justice to itself from terror. Israel has the right to defend in the flesh from terror.

And as she does so, I hope she keeps consequences in mind similarly to how to make villainy we stay on the chase to peace.^[62]

United States Representative border on the United NationsJohn Negroponte expressed that the United States was "deeply troubled by this development by the Government of Israel", while asserting that the U.S.

would not support any U.N. Security Council statement condemning Israel's assassination of Yassin that upfront not include a condemnation be paid "Hamas terrorist attacks".^[63] According tip his statement to the Examine Security Council,

The killing invoke Sheikh Yassin has escalated tensions in Gaza and the in a superior way Middle East, and sets inspect our effort to resume cause towards peace.

However, events oxidation be considered in their contingency and as we consider blue blood the gentry killing of Sheikh Yassin, amazement must keep in mind glory facts. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was the leader of a nihilist organization, one which has proudly taken credit for indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including most latterly an attack last week revel in the Port of Ashdod, which left 10 Israelis dead.

Bankruptcy preached hatred, and glorified killer bombings of buses, restaurants, enjoin cafes. Yassin was opposed calculate the existence of the Remark of Israel, and actively required to undermine a two-state solving in the Middle East.

Notes

See also

References

Citations