Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi

Abdel Aziz Ali Abdulmajid al-Rantissi ( ) (October 23, 1947 – April 17, 2004) was the co-founder of the militant Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin . Rantissi was Hamas's political leader and spokesman in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin in March 2004. Like most Hamas members, Rantissi opposed any compromise with Israel and called for the creation of a state of Palestine (including the whole of the State of Israel) through military exertion against the Jewish state. In addition, Rantissi was the most vocal of Hamas leaders to deny the Holocaust , claiming that the Holocaust never occurred as described by Western historians and that Zionists at one time supported and funded Nazi activities. He was considered a terrorist by the United States , the European Union , and Israel for organizing suicide bombings of civilians . Rantissi was quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying, "We will kill Jews everywhere. There will be no security for any Jews, those who came from America, Russia or anywhere." However this alleged statement by Rantisi seems contradictory to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin himself who said that he was 'at peace with all people, even the Jews', but that he only advocated for the rights of Palestinians. However, Rantissi's statement in Arabic could have referred exclusively to Israeli Jews. "Israeli strike kills at least 12 in Gaza ; Targeted Hamas chief among dead" (Abstract (verified in Factiva )) . "Now there will be an escalation," warned Abdul Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader.

Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Majid al-Rantisi (23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004), nicknamed the "Lion of Palestine," was the co-founder of the Palestinian movement Hamas along with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin . Rantisi was Hamas's political leader and spokesman in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March 2004. Rantisi opposed compromise with Israel and called for the creation of a Palestinian state (including the whole of the State of Israel) through military action against the Jewish state.

( Learn how and when to remove this message ) Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Majid al-Rantisi ( ‎; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004), nicknamed the "Lion of Palestine", was the co-founder of the Palestinian movement Hamas along with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin . Rantisi was Hamas's political leader and spokesman in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March 2004. Rantisi opposed compromise with Israel and called for the creation of a Palestinian state (including the whole of the State of Israel) through military action against the Jewish state.

Palestinian political leader (1947–2004) Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Majid al-Rantisi ( ‎; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004), nicknamed the "Lion of Palestine" was the co-founder of Palestinian Sunni-Islamic organization Hamas along with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin . Rantisi became Hamas's political leader and spokesman in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March 2004. Rantisi opposed compromise with Israel and called for the creation of a Palestinian state (including the whole of the State of Israel) through military action against the Jewish state.

Palestinian political leader (1947–2004) leaders history Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi ( Arabic : عبد العزيز الرنتيسي ‎; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004) was a Palestinian political leader and co-founder of Hamas , along with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 1987. He also served as the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council from March 2004 until his assassination in April 2004 and the first deputy chairman of the Hamas Shura Council from December 1987 until March 2004. Rantisi was born in Yibna , Mandatory Palestine in 1947. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War , his family fled or were expelled by Zionist militias to the Gaza Strip . In 1956, when he was nine, Israeli soldiers killed his uncle in front of him in Khan Younis , which he stated had a lifelong impact on him. He studied pediatric medicine and genetics at Alexandria University in Egypt , graduating first in his class; during that time he became a member of the Muslim Brotherhood . In 1976, he returned to Gaza to teach parasitology and genetics at the Islamic University of Gaza . During the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation in 1988, he became a popular organizer and a leader whose efforts helped the formation of Hamas. Rantisi became Hamas's political leader and spokesman in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March 2004. Rantisi opposed compromise with Israel and called for the creation of a Palestinian state (including the whole of the State of Israel) through military action against Israel. On 17 April 2004, the Israeli Air Force assassinated al-Rantisi by firing Hellfire missiles from an AH-64 Apache helicopter at his car.

Palestinian political leader (1947–2004) Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi ( Arabic : عبد العزيز الرنتيسي ‎; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004) was a Palestinian political leader and co-founder of Hamas , along with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 1987. He also served as the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council from the assassination of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin on 22 March 2004 until his own assassination in April 2004 and the first deputy chairman of the Hamas Shura Council from December 1987 until March 2004. Rantisi was born in Yibna , Mandatory Palestine in 1947. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War , his family fled or were expelled by Zionist militias to the Gaza Strip . In 1956, when he was nine, Israeli soldiers killed his uncle in front of him in Khan Younis , which he stated had a lifelong impact on him. He studied pediatric medicine and genetics at Alexandria University in Egypt , graduating first in his class; during that time he became a member of the Muslim Brotherhood . In 1976, he returned to Gaza to teach parasitology and genetics at the Islamic University of Gaza . During the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation in 1988, he became a popular organizer and a leader whose efforts helped the formation of Hamas. Rantisi became Hamas's political leader and spokesman in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March 2004. Rantisi opposed compromise with Israel and called for the creation of a Palestinian state (including the whole of the State of Israel) through military action against Israel.