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Portrait of Abdel Aziz Ali al-Rantisi

Photo: user:hardscarf, cropped by Fazoffic · CC BY 4.0

Abdel Aziz Ali al-Rantisi

Co-founder of Hamas and influential Palestinian political figure.

Born
23 October 1947
Born in
Yibna, near Jaffa, Palestine
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Why Abdel is here

Abd el Aziz al-Rantisi is recognized for his significant role in Palestinian history as a co-founder of Hamas and a prominent political leader. His involvement in the Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation and his leadership in various political and medical roles have made him a notable figure in the history of Palestine.

Their story

Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi (1947–2004) was born in Yibna, near Ramle; his family was driven to Gaza in 1948. As a boy in Khan Younis in 1956, he saw Israeli soldiers kill his uncle. He studied medicine in Alexandria and worked as a paediatrician.

In 1987 he co-founded Hamas with Ahmed Yassin. In 1992 Israel deported him with more than 400 others to southern Lebanon, where he became their spokesman. He led Hamas in Gaza after Yassin was killed in March 2004, and was himself killed by an Israeli missile strike less than a month later.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Abdel’s path.

  1. 1948

    Displacement to Gaza Strip following the Nakba and occupation of his village.

  2. 1971

    Graduated as a doctor of medicine from Alexandria University, Egypt.

  3. 1976

    Earned a master's degree in pediatrics and became head of pediatrics at Nasir Hospital in Gaza.

  4. 1987

    Co-founded Hamas, becoming a key figure in the Palestinian intifada.

  5. 2004

    Became the leader of Hamas following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, before his own assassination in the same year.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Pioneering role in establishing Hamas and its rise as a significant force in Palestinian politics.

  2. Leadership in medical field, particularly in pediatrics, serving the needy in Gaza.

  3. Active resistance against Israeli occupation, including organizing tax withholding campaigns.

  4. Academic contributions, including teaching at the Islamic University of Gaza.

  5. Political writings and poetry, published widely in Arab newspapers and his website.

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