Ahmed Yassin
Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin (c. 1937- 22 March 2004) was a Palestinian imam and militant who co-founded and lead Hamas. Although it originally helped Palestinian society by establishing charitable bodies to fund libraries, hospitals, education systems and other services, it has been deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, the European Union, and other countries due to its hostility against Israel and its civilians. Yassin was blamed for a number of terror attacks carried out by Hamas and was branded a mass murderer by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. In a media statement after a failed assassination attempt, Yassin admitted ordering terror attacks but claimed it was just retaliation for Israeli killings of Palestinian civilians.
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| “ | Israel is targeting Palestinian civilians, so Israeli civilians should be targeted. From now on, all Israeli people are targets. We got Israel's message. They should now expect the answer. | „ |
| ~ Ahmed Yassin |
A quadriplegic, Yassin was assassinated on 22 March 2004 by Israeli missiles after morning prayers. The killing was in retaliation for a suicide bombing at the Erez Crossing by Hamas member Reem Riyashi that killed four people, allegedly ordered by Yassin personally in order to punish Riyashi for having an affair with a senior Hamas commander. Yassin was succeeded as leader by Hamas co-founder Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.