Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi - Revision history

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	\|image = عبد العزيز الرنتيسي.jpg		\|image = عبد العزيز الرنتيسي.jpg
	\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|1947\|10\|23\|df=y}}		\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|1947\|10\|23\|df=y}}
	\|birth_place = [[Yibna]], [[Mandatory Palestine]]		\|birth_place = [[Yibna]], [[Ramle Subdistrict, Mandatory Palestine\|Ramle]], [[Mandatory Palestine]]
	\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|2004\|04\|17\|1947\|10\|23\|df=y}}		\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|2004\|04\|17\|1947\|10\|23\|df=y}}
	\|death_place = [[Gaza City]], [[Gaza Strip]]		\|death_place = [[Gaza City]], [[Gaza Strip]]
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	'''Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Majid al-Rantisi''' ({{lang-ar\|عبد العزيز علي عبد المجيد الحفيظ الرنتيسي}}{{ltr}}; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004), nicknamed the "Lion of Palestine",<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://paltoday.ps/ar/post/196073/%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D8%BA%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86\|script-title=ar:عشر سنوات على اغتيال "أسد فلسطين"\|language=ar\|publisher=paltoday.ps\|date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://loblab.com/pages/item.aspx?itemid=32969\|script-title=ar:اليوم ذكرى استشهاد أسد فلسطين الدكتور عبدالعزيز الرنتيسي\|language=ar\|publisher=loblab.com\|date=17 April 2014}}</ref> was the co-founder of Palestinian Sunni-Islamic organization [[Hamas]] along with Sheikh [[Ahmed Yassin]].		'''Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Majid al-Rantisi''' ({{lang-ar\|عبد العزيز علي عبد المجيد الحفيظ الرنتيسي}}{{ltr}}; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004), nicknamed the "Lion of Palestine" <ref>{{cite web\|url=http://paltoday.ps/ar/post/196073/%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D8%BA%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86\|script-title=ar:عشر سنوات على اغتيال "أسد فلسطين"\|language=ar\|publisher=paltoday.ps\|date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://loblab.com/pages/item.aspx?itemid=32969\|script-title=ar:اليوم ذكرى استشهاد أسد فلسطين الدكتور عبدالعزيز الرنتيسي\|language=ar\|publisher=loblab.com\|date=17 April 2014\|access-date=19 April 2014\|archive-date=28 March 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328203343/http://loblab.com/pages/item.aspx?itemid=32969\|url-status=dead}}</ref> was the co-founder of Palestinian Sunni-Islamic organization [[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.<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/israel/Story/0,,1194569,00.html\|work=The Guardian\|location=London\|title=Israeli missile attack kills new Hamas chief\|first=Conal\|last=Urquhart\|date=18 April 2004\|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> 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.		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.<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/israel/Story/0,,1194569,00.html\|work=The Guardian\|location=London\|title=Israeli missile attack kills new Hamas chief\|first=Conal\|last=Urquhart\|date=18 April 2004\|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> 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.
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	==Early life and education==		==Early life and education==
	Rantisi was born in [[Yibna]], near [[Jaffa, Israel\|Jaffa]] on 23 October 1947. In [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]], his family fled to the [[Gaza Strip]]. In 1956, when he was nine, Israeli soldiers killed his uncle in [[Khan Younis]]: as he explained to [[Joe Sacco]], this fact was very important for his future life.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sacco\|first=Joe\|title=Footnotes in Gaza\|url=https://archive.org/details/footnotesingaza0000sacc\|url-access=registration\|year=2009\|publisher=Metropolitan Books\|location=New York\|isbn=978-0-8050-7347-8}}</ref> He studied [[pediatrics\|pediatric medicine]] and [[genetics]] at [[Egypt]]'s [[Alexandria University]], graduating first in his class. He was a certified [[physician]]. In his time in Egypt he became a deeply convicted member of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]]. In 1976, he returned to Gaza to teach [[parasitology]] and [[genetics]] at the [[Islamic University of Gaza\|Islamic University]].<ref>{{cite news\| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2977816.stm\|work=BBC News\|title=Profile: Hamas leader Rantisi\| date=17 April 2004\|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>		Rantisi was born in [[Yibna]], near [[Jaffa, Israel\|Jaffa]] on 23 October 1947. In the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]], his family fled to the [[Gaza Strip]]. In 1956, when he was nine, Israeli soldiers killed his uncle in [[Khan Younis]]: as he explained to [[Joe Sacco]], this fact was very important for his future life.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sacco\|first=Joe\|title=Footnotes in Gaza\|url=https://archive.org/details/footnotesingaza0000sacc\|url-access=registration\|year=2009\|publisher=Metropolitan Books\|location=New York\|isbn=978-0-8050-7347-8}}</ref> He studied [[pediatrics\|pediatric medicine]] and [[genetics]] at [[Egypt]]'s, [[Alexandria University]], graduating first in his class. He was a certified [[physician]]. In his time in Egypt he became a deeply convicted member of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]]. In 1976, he returned to Gaza to teach [[parasitology]] and [[genetics]] at the [[Islamic University of Gaza\|Islamic University]].<ref>{{cite news\| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2977816.stm\|work=BBC News\|title=Profile: Hamas leader Rantisi\| date=17 April 2004\|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

	==Origins of Hamas==		==Origins of Hamas==
	In 1987, four Palestinian civilians of the Jabalya refugee camp were killed in a traffic accident that involved Israeli settlers and soldiers.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article38342.ece \|work=The Independent \|location=London, UK \|title=Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi profile \|date=19 April 2004 \|access-date=23 April 2010 }}{{dead link\|date=August 2021\|bot=medic}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}</ref>		In 1987, four Palestinian civilians of the Jabalya refugee camp were killed in a traffic accident that involved Israeli settlers and soldiers.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article38342.ece \|work=The Independent \|location=London, UK \|title=Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi profile \|date=19 April 2004 \|access-date=23 April 2010 }}{{dead link\|date=August 2021\|bot=medic}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}</ref>

	According to Rantisi, he joined ~~with~~ Sheikh [[Ahmad Yassin]] and [[Salah Shehadeh]], among others, in instructing people to exit the mosques chanting ''[[Allahu Akbar]]'' ("God is great"). This was the start of the [[First Intifada]], according to Rantisi, under whose leadership the organization that would subsequently come to be known as Hamas was formed later that year. "Intifada" is the Arabic word for "uprising", in this case an uprising against the Israeli occupation. In Hamas' version of the start of the Intifada, the rival [[PLO]] later joined forces with them, and a united leadership was formed. Historians dispute the Hamas-led version of the launching of the uprising.{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}		According to Rantisi, he joined Sheikh [[Ahmad Yassin]] and [[Salah Shehadeh]], among others, in instructing people to exit the mosques chanting ''[[Allahu Akbar]]'' ("God is great"). This was the start of the [[First Intifada]], according to Rantisi, under whose leadership the organization that would subsequently come to be known as Hamas was formed later that year. "Intifada" is the Arabic word for "uprising", in this case, an uprising against the Israeli occupation. In Hamas' version of the start of the Intifada, the rival [[PLO]] later joined forces with them, and a united leadership was formed. Historians dispute the Hamas-led version of the launching of the uprising.{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}

	==Expulsion and return==		==Expulsion and return==
	{{more citations needed section\|date=September 2015}}		{{more citations needed section\|date=September 2015}}
	In December 1992, Rantissi was deported to southern [[Lebanon]], as part of the expulsion of 416 Hamas and [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] operatives, and emerged as the general spokesman of the expellees.<ref name=therald>{{cite news\|title=Israel shelling near camp\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ik9FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1bsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5819,823040&dq=abdulaziz+rantisi&hl=en\|newspaper=The Telegraph Herald\|date=4 June 1994\|agency=AP\|location=Lebanon}}</ref> Upon his return in 1993, he was arrested, but later{{When\|date=October 2010}} released. He was detained many times{{Quantify\|date=October 2010}} over longer periods{{Quantify\|date=October 2010}} by the [[Palestinian Authority]], for his criticism of the PA and of [[Yasser Arafat]], the last time in mid-1999. When Rantisi returned to his public position as "right hand" to Yassin, he remained one of the main opponents to any cease-fire and cessation of attacks inside Israel.{{citation needed\|date=October 2015}}		In December 1992, Rantissi was deported to southern [[Lebanon]], as part of the expulsion of 416 Hamas and [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] operatives, and emerged as the general spokesman of the expellees.<ref name=therald>{{cite news\|title=Israel shelling near camp\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ik9FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1bsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5819,823040&dq=abdulaziz+rantisi&hl=en\|newspaper=The Telegraph Herald\|date=4 June 1994\|agency=AP\|location=Lebanon}}</ref> Upon his return in 1993, he was arrested, but later{{When\|date=October 2010}} released. He was detained many times{{Quantify\|date=October 2010}} over longer periods{{Quantify\|date=October 2010}} by the [[Palestinian Authority]], for his criticism of the PA and of [[Yasser Arafat]], for the last time in mid-1999. When Rantisi returned to his public position as "right hand" to Yassin, he remained one of the main opponents to any cease-fire and cessation of attacks inside Israel.{{citation needed\|date=October 2015}}

	During talks among the Hamas leadership both in Gaza and abroad and in its constant contact with the PA regarding terror activity, Rantisi, together with Ibrahim Macadma,{{Who\|date=October 2015}} controlled the tone of the Hamas leadership. After the return of Sheikh Yassin to the Gaza Strip in October 1997 in a prisoner exchange following a failed Israeli attempt to kill Hamas's Jordanian branch chief [[Khaled Mashal]], Rantissi worked closely with Yassin to restore hierarchic command and to reinforce cadre uniformity within a reorganized Hamas. Following the killings of Macadma and [[Salah Shehadeh]], Rantisi purportedly became the political head and also acclaimed spiritual leader of Hamas, remaining its principal spokesman.{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}		During talks among the Hamas leadership both in Gaza and abroad and in its constant contact with the PA regarding terror activity, Rantisi, together with Ibrahim Macadma,{{Who\|date=October 2015}} controlled the tone of the Hamas leadership. After the return of Sheikh Yassin to the Gaza Strip in October 1997 in a prisoner exchange following a failed Israeli attempt to kill Hamas's Jordanian branch chief [[Khaled Mashal]], Rantissi worked closely with Yassin to restore hierarchic command and to reinforce cadre uniformity within a reorganized Hamas. Following the killings of Macadma and [[Salah Shehadeh]], Rantisi purportedly became the political head and also the acclaimed spiritual leader of Hamas, remaining its principal spokesman.{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}

	==Leadership of Hamas==		==Leadership of Hamas==
	Rantisi's four-week tenure as leader of Hamas was spent in hiding, once the public funeral for [[Ahmed Yassin]], attended by large crowds, ended. During his leadership, Hamas carried out a single suicide bombing ~~which~~ killed an Israeli policeman. On the day of his death, 17 April 2004, he came out of hiding to visit his family in Gaza City, arriving before dawn and staying till the evening. Shortly after he left the house, he was killed. [[Khaled Mashal~~\|Khaled Masha'al~~]] became the leader of Hamas after his death.{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}		Rantisi's four-week tenure as leader of Hamas was spent in hiding, once the public funeral for [[Ahmed Yassin]], attended by large crowds, ended. During his leadership, Hamas carried out a single suicide bombing that killed an Israeli policeman. On the day of his death, 17 April 2004, he came out of hiding to visit his family in Gaza City, arriving before dawn and staying till the evening. Shortly after he left the house, he was killed. [[Khaled Mashal]] became the leader of Hamas after his death.{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}

	==Selected timeline==		==Selected timeline==
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	On 8 June 2003, Rantisi was responsible for directing the Hamas-led attack in which four Israeli soldiers were killed at the Erez Checkpoint in the Gaza Strip. On 10 June 2003, Rantisi survived an Israeli helicopter attack on a car in which he was traveling.<ref name=abc1063>{{cite news\|last=Jones\|first=Tony\|title=Hamas leader survives assassination attempt\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s876632.htm\|access-date=15 December 2012\|newspaper=ABC\|date=10 June 2003\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419044030/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s876632.htm\|archive-date=19 April 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was lightly wounded in the attack, which killed a bodyguard of Rantisi, a civilian and wounded at least 25 others.<ref name=un>{{cite web\|title=Identical letters dated 10 June 2003 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council \|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6466EA5918CD99FF85256D430052B9F8 \|publisher=UN \|access-date=17 November 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419030953/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6466EA5918CD99FF85256D430052B9F8 \|archive-date=19 April 2014 }}</ref>		On 8 June 2003, Rantisi was responsible for directing the Hamas-led attack in which four Israeli soldiers were killed at the Erez Checkpoint in the Gaza Strip. On 10 June 2003, Rantisi survived an Israeli helicopter attack on a car in which he was traveling.<ref name=abc1063>{{cite news\|last=Jones\|first=Tony\|title=Hamas leader survives assassination attempt\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s876632.htm\|access-date=15 December 2012\|newspaper=ABC\|date=10 June 2003\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419044030/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s876632.htm\|archive-date=19 April 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was lightly wounded in the attack, which killed a bodyguard of Rantisi, a civilian and wounded at least 25 others.<ref name=un>{{cite web\|title=Identical letters dated 10 June 2003 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council \|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6466EA5918CD99FF85256D430052B9F8 \|publisher=UN \|access-date=17 November 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419030953/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6466EA5918CD99FF85256D430052B9F8 \|archive-date=19 April 2014 }}</ref>

	On 26 January 2004, Rantisi offered "a [[hudna\|10-year truce]] in return for withdrawal and the establishment of a state". There had earlier been some rumored talks within Hamas about doing this but this time Rantisi announced that "the movement has ~~taken a decision~~ on this".{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}		On 26 January 2004, Rantisi offered "a [[hudna\|10-year truce]] in return for withdrawal and the establishment of a state". There had earlier been some rumored talks within Hamas about doing this but this time Rantisi announced that "the movement has decided on this".{{citation needed\|date=September 2015}}

	On 23 March 2004, Rantisi was named leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the killing of [[Ahmed Yassin]] by Israeli forces. On 27 March 2004, Rantisi addressed 5,000 supporters in [[Gaza City\|Gaza]]. He declared the then US president [[George W. Bush]] to be an "''enemy of Muslims''". "''America declared war against God. Sharon declared war against God and God declared war against America, Bush and Sharon. The war of God continues against them and I can see the victory coming up from the land of Palestine by the hand of Hamas.''"<ref name=cnn04>{{cite news\|title=New Hamas leader: Bush is 'enemy of Muslims'\|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/28/mideast.conflict/index.html\|access-date=17 November 2012\|newspaper=CNN\|date=6 May 2004\|location=Gaza City}}</ref>		On 23 March 2004, Rantisi was named leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the killing of [[Ahmed Yassin]] by Israeli forces. On 27 March 2004, Rantisi addressed 5,000 supporters in [[Gaza City\|Gaza]]. He declared the then US president [[George W. Bush]] to be an "''enemy of Muslims''". "''America declared war against God. Sharon declared war against God and God declared war against America, Bush and Sharon. The war of God continues against them and I can see the victory coming up from the land of Palestine by the hand of Hamas.''"<ref name=cnn04>{{cite news\|title=New Hamas leader: Bush is 'enemy of Muslims'\|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/28/mideast.conflict/index.html\|access-date=17 November 2012\|newspaper=CNN\|date=6 May 2004\|location=Gaza City}}</ref>
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=307153&contrassID=2&subContrassID=15&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y What the doctor orders – Interview by Amira Hass] ([[Haaretz]])		*[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=307153&contrassID=2&subContrassID=15&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y What the doctor orders – Interview by Amira Hass] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002849/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=307153&contrassID=2&subContrassID=15&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y \|date=1 October 2007 }} ([[Haaretz]])

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{{Short description|Hamas leader (1947–2004)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=October 2015}}
{{Tone|date=October 2015}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Abdel Aziz Al-Rantisi
|native_name = {{Nobold|{{lang|ar|عبد العزيز علي عبد المجيد الحفيظ الرنتيسي}}}}
|image = عبد العزيز الرنتيسي.jpg
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|10|23|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Yibna]], [[Mandatory Palestine]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|04|17|1947|10|23|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Gaza City]], [[Gaza Strip]]
|death_cause = Assassination
|resting_place_coordinates = 
|known_for = [[Hamas]] leader
|alma_mater = [[Alexandria University]]
|spouse = Rasha Al Adloni
}}

'''Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Majid al-Rantisi''' ({{lang-ar|عبد العزيز علي عبد المجيد الحفيظ الرنتيسي}}{{ltr}}; 23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004), nicknamed the "Lion of Palestine",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paltoday.ps/ar/post/196073/%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D8%BA%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86|script-title=ar:عشر سنوات على اغتيال "أسد فلسطين"|language=ar|publisher=paltoday.ps|date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://loblab.com/pages/item.aspx?itemid=32969|script-title=ar:اليوم ذكرى استشهاد أسد فلسطين الدكتور عبدالعزيز الرنتيسي|language=ar|publisher=loblab.com|date=17 April 2014}}</ref> was the co-founder of Palestinian Sunni-Islamic organization [[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.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/israel/Story/0,,1194569,00.html|work=The Guardian|location=London|title=Israeli missile attack kills new Hamas chief|first=Conal|last=Urquhart|date=18 April 2004|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> 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.

On 17 April 2004, the [[Israeli Air Force]] [[targeted killing|killed]] al-Rantisi by firing [[Hellfire missiles]] from an [[AH-64 Apache]] helicopter at his car.

==Early life and education==
Rantisi was born in [[Yibna]], near [[Jaffa, Israel|Jaffa]] on 23 October 1947. In [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]], his family fled to the [[Gaza Strip]]. In 1956, when he was nine, Israeli soldiers killed his uncle in [[Khan Younis]]: as he explained to [[Joe Sacco]], this fact was very important for his future life.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sacco|first=Joe|title=Footnotes in Gaza|url=https://archive.org/details/footnotesingaza0000sacc|url-access=registration|year=2009|publisher=Metropolitan Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8050-7347-8}}</ref> He studied [[pediatrics|pediatric medicine]] and [[genetics]] at [[Egypt]]'s [[Alexandria University]], graduating first in his class. He was a certified [[physician]]. In his time in Egypt he became a deeply convicted member of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]]. In 1976, he returned to Gaza to teach [[parasitology]] and [[genetics]] at the [[Islamic University of Gaza|Islamic University]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2977816.stm|work=BBC News|title=Profile: Hamas leader Rantisi| date=17 April 2004|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

==Origins of Hamas==
In 1987, four Palestinian civilians of the Jabalya refugee camp were killed in a traffic accident that involved Israeli settlers and soldiers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article38342.ece |work=The Independent |location=London, UK |title=Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi profile |date=19 April 2004 |access-date=23 April 2010 }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

According to Rantisi, he joined with Sheikh [[Ahmad Yassin]] and [[Salah Shehadeh]], among others, in instructing people to exit the mosques chanting ''[[Allahu Akbar]]'' ("God is great"). This was the start of the [[First Intifada]], according to Rantisi, under whose leadership the organization that would subsequently come to be known as Hamas was formed later that year. "Intifada" is the Arabic word for "uprising", in this case an uprising against the Israeli occupation. In Hamas' version of the start of the Intifada, the rival [[PLO]] later joined forces with them, and a united leadership was formed. Historians dispute the Hamas-led version of the launching of the uprising.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

==Expulsion and return==
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2015}}
In December 1992, Rantissi was deported to southern [[Lebanon]], as part of the expulsion of 416 Hamas and [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] operatives, and emerged as the general spokesman of the expellees.<ref name=therald>{{cite news|title=Israel shelling near camp|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ik9FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1bsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5819,823040&dq=abdulaziz+rantisi&hl=en|newspaper=The Telegraph Herald|date=4 June 1994|agency=AP|location=Lebanon}}</ref> Upon his return in 1993, he was arrested, but later{{When|date=October 2010}} released. He was detained many times{{Quantify|date=October 2010}} over longer periods{{Quantify|date=October 2010}} by the [[Palestinian Authority]], for his criticism of the PA and of [[Yasser Arafat]], the last time in mid-1999. When Rantisi returned to his public position as "right hand" to Yassin, he remained one of the main opponents to any cease-fire and cessation of attacks inside Israel.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

During talks among the Hamas leadership both in Gaza and abroad and in its constant contact with the PA regarding terror activity, Rantisi, together with Ibrahim Macadma,{{Who|date=October 2015}} controlled the tone of the Hamas leadership. After the return of Sheikh Yassin to the Gaza Strip in October 1997 in a prisoner exchange following a failed Israeli attempt to kill Hamas's Jordanian branch chief [[Khaled Mashal]], Rantissi worked closely with Yassin to restore hierarchic command and to reinforce cadre uniformity within a reorganized Hamas. Following the killings of Macadma and [[Salah Shehadeh]], Rantisi purportedly became the political head and also acclaimed spiritual leader of Hamas, remaining its principal spokesman.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

==Leadership of Hamas==
Rantisi's four-week tenure as leader of Hamas was spent in hiding, once the public funeral for [[Ahmed Yassin]], attended by large crowds, ended. During his leadership, Hamas carried out a single suicide bombing which killed an Israeli policeman. On the day of his death, 17 April 2004, he came out of hiding to visit his family in Gaza City, arriving before dawn and staying till the evening. Shortly after he left the house, he was killed. [[Khaled Mashal|Khaled Masha'al]] became the leader of Hamas after his death.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

==Selected timeline==
On 6 June 2003, Rantisi broke off discussions with Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister [[Mahmoud Abbas]], who had called for an end to "armed resistance".{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

On 8 June 2003, Rantisi was responsible for directing the Hamas-led attack in which four Israeli soldiers were killed at the Erez Checkpoint in the Gaza Strip. On 10 June 2003, Rantisi survived an Israeli helicopter attack on a car in which he was traveling.<ref name=abc1063>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Tony|title=Hamas leader survives assassination attempt|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s876632.htm|access-date=15 December 2012|newspaper=ABC|date=10 June 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419044030/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s876632.htm|archive-date=19 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was lightly wounded in the attack, which killed a bodyguard of Rantisi, a civilian and wounded at least 25 others.<ref name=un>{{cite web|title=Identical letters dated 10 June 2003 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council |url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6466EA5918CD99FF85256D430052B9F8 |publisher=UN |access-date=17 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419030953/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6466EA5918CD99FF85256D430052B9F8 |archive-date=19 April 2014 }}</ref>

On 26 January 2004, Rantisi offered "a [[hudna|10-year truce]] in return for withdrawal and the establishment of a state". There had earlier been some rumored talks within Hamas about doing this but this time Rantisi announced that "the movement has taken a decision on this".{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

On 23 March 2004, Rantisi was named leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the killing of [[Ahmed Yassin]] by Israeli forces. On 27 March 2004, Rantisi addressed 5,000 supporters in [[Gaza City|Gaza]]. He declared the then US president [[George W. Bush]] to be an "''enemy of Muslims''". "''America declared war against God. Sharon declared war against God and God declared war against America, Bush and Sharon. The war of God continues against them and I can see the victory coming up from the land of Palestine by the hand of Hamas.''"<ref name=cnn04>{{cite news|title=New Hamas leader: Bush is 'enemy of Muslims'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/28/mideast.conflict/index.html|access-date=17 November 2012|newspaper=CNN|date=6 May 2004|location=Gaza City}}</ref>

==Assassination==
[[File:Ah-64d.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Israeli [[AH-64 Apache]] helicopter]]
On 17 April 2004, Rantisi was [[Israeli targeted killings|assassinated]] by the [[Israeli Air Force]], when they fired [[Hellfire missiles]] from an [[AH-64 Apache]] helicopter at his car. Two others, a bodyguard named Akram Nassar and Rantisi's 27-year-old son Mohammed, were also killed in the attack, and four bystanders wounded. [[Israeli army radio]] stated that this was the first opportunity to target Rantisi, without significant [[collateral damage]], since he took the leadership of Hamas,<ref name="wwwisraelnncom4">{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=60974|title=israelnn|access-date=18 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129032450/http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=60974|archive-date=29 November 2005 }}</ref> alleging that he had surrounded himself with [[human shield]]s since the killing of Yassin.<ref name="Plaw2008">{{cite book|author=Avery Plaw|title=Targeting Terrorists: A License to Kill?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lrLGaUvJfykC&pg=PA77|year=2008|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7546-4526-9|page=77}}</ref>

===Reactions===
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled said:
: "Israel...today struck a mastermind of terrorism, with blood on his hands. As long as the Palestinian Authority does not lift a finger and fight terrorism, Israel will continue to have to do so itself."<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawrence Journal-World|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YlsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3163%2C4724148}}</ref>

British Foreign Minister [[Jack Straw]] condemned the action:
: "The British government has made it repeatedly clear that so-called 'targeted assassinations' of this kind are unlawful, unjustified and counter-productive."<ref>{{cite news|title=UK condemns Hamas leader killing|date=18 April 2004|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3636179.stm|access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Rantisi was married to [[Jamila Abdallah Taha al-Shanti]], who was elected to the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] in 2006; they had six children.<ref name=merip04>{{cite journal|last=Seitz|first=Charmaine|title=A New Kind of Killing|journal=MERIP|date=30 March 2004|url=http://www.merip.org/mero/mero033004|access-date=25 July 2012}}</ref>

==Quotations==
"The Israelis will not know security. We will fight them until the liberation of Palestine, the whole of Palestine." (''[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/international/middleeast/18MIDE.html?hp ''The New York Times]'' '', 22 March 2003)

"All the land of Palestine is a part of the Islamic faith and the [[Caliph]] [[Omar bin al-Khattab]] declared it for all Muslims. Therefore, no individual or group has the right to sell it or give it up."<ref>[http://www.kul-alarab.com/ Kul al-Arab] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040927014146/http://www.kul-alarab.com/ |date=27 September 2004 }}, kul-alarab.com, 9 January 1998.</ref>

"If Israel was established in Britain, would you accept compromise?", to British journalist Derek Brown, June 1993.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Derek|title=Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/apr/19/guardianobituaries.israel|website=TheGuardian.com|date=19 April 2004|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hamas]]
* [[Ahmed Yassin]]
* [[List of Palestinian civilian casualties in the Second Intifada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=307153&contrassID=2&subContrassID=15&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y What the doctor orders – Interview by Amira Hass] ([[Haaretz]])

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rantisi, Abdel Aziz Al-}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Hamas leaders]]
[[Category:Palestinian Muslims]]
[[Category:Assassinated Palestinian politicians]]
[[Category:Palestinian Holocaust deniers]]
[[Category:People from the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Palestinian pediatricians]]
[[Category:Alexandria University alumni]]
[[Category:Islamic University of Gaza faculty]]
[[Category:Palestinian nationalists]]
[[Category:Assassinated Hamas members]]
[[Category:20th-century Palestinian physicians]]
[[Category:Holocaust denial]]
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Hamas members]]