Ahmed Yassin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmed Yassin
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أحمد ياسين
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Yassin in 1990
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| Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council | |
| In office 10 December 1987 – 22 March 2004 |
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| Deputy | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin
June 1936 Al-Jura, Mandatory Palestine (near Al-Majdal, now known as Ashkelon, Israel) |
| Died | March 22, 2004 (aged either 67, 68, or 75) Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Political party | Hamas |
| Education | Ain Shams University, Cairo |
| Occupation |
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Ahmed Yassin (born June 1936/37 – died 22 March 2004) was a Palestinian politician and religious leader who founded a political and military organization called Hamas in 1987. He was known for his leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for advocating for Palestinian rights. He was a quadriplegic and nearly blind, relying on a wheelchair throughout his adult life. He was killed in an Israeli attack in 2004.
Ahmed Yassin was a very important and, at times, controversial figure in the history of the Palestinian people and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He is remembered differently by various groups: as a national hero and martyr by many Palestinians, and as a leader of a terrorist organization by Israel and its allies.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Ahmed Yassin's journey began in a small village called al-Jura, near the city of Ashkelon, in a region then known as Mandatory Palestine. The exact year of his birth is a bit uncertain, with some records suggesting 1929 and others 1936 or 1937. When he was just three years old, his father, Abdullah Yassin, passed away. This meant he grew up known in his neighborhood as Ahmad Sa'ada, after his mother, Sa'ada al-Habeel, to distinguish him from children of his father's other wives. He had four brothers and two sisters.
A major turning point in Ahmed Yassin's early life, and for many Palestinians, was the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. During this conflict, his family, like many others, had to leave their home. They became refugees, settling in al-Shati Camp in Gaza. This experience deeply affected Yassin and many others of his generation.
When Ahmed Yassin was about 16 years old, on July 15, 1952, a simple sporting accident changed his life forever. While wrestling with a friend, he sustained a severe spinal injury. His neck was in a cast for 45 days, but the damage to his spinal cord left him a quadriplegic. This means he lost the use of all four of his limbs and would rely on a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Education
Because of his deteriorating health and financial difficulties, Yassin educated himself at home, reading widely on many subjects, including philosophy, religion, politics, sociology, and economics. This self-education made him incredibly knowledgeable and a very persuasive speaker, earning him the respect of many in the Gaza Strip.
After years of unemployment, Ahmed Yassin found a job as an Arabic language teacher at an elementary school in Rimal, Gaza. Initially, the headmaster was worried about how students would react to a teacher with a disability, but Yassin quickly proved to be popular, especially among the more studious children. He even encouraged his students to attend the mosque more often. Having a steady job brought him financial stability, and in 1960, at the age of 22, he married one of his relatives, Halima Yassin. Together, they had eleven children.
The Founding of Hamas and Political Involvement
Ahmed Yassin's political and religious involvement grew steadily over the years. He was actively involved in establishing a Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, a large Islamic movement.
In 1973, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin established an Islamic charity called Mujama al-Islamiya in Gaza. This organization was even recognized by Israel in 1979. His work focused on social and religious activities. However, his activities soon led to more direct involvement in the conflict. In 1984, he was arrested and jailed for activities related to gathering resources for his organization. He was released just a year later, in 1985, as part of a prisoner exchange known as the Jibril Agreement.
A pivotal moment in Ahmed Yassin's life and in Palestinian history came in 1987. During a period of intense Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, known as the First Intifada, Yassin co-founded a new organization with Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi. This organization was called Hamas. Hamas was established as a political and military organization with the goal of advocating for Palestinian rights and land. From its very beginning in December 1987 until his death, Yassin served as its spiritual leader and was considered its de facto leader.
His leadership of Hamas led to further arrests. In 1989, Yassin was arrested by Israel and faced serious charges related to actions taken against people believed to be working with Israel. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he was released from Israeli prison in 1997 as part of a special arrangement with Jordan. This release happened after a failed attempt by Israeli agents to assassinate another Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, in Jordan. Yassin was exchanged for two Israeli agents who had been arrested by Jordanian authorities. At the time of his release, he was in very poor health.
Despite his frail health, Yassin immediately resumed his leadership of Hamas. He continued to advocate for Palestinian rights and resistance. He also tried to maintain relationships with the Palestinian Authority, the governing body of some Palestinian areas, believing that conflict between Palestinian groups would harm their overall cause. He was sometimes placed under house arrest by the Palestinian Authority, but he was always eventually released, often after large demonstrations by his supporters.
Ahmed Yassin's Views and the Peace Process
Ahmed Yassin was a central figure in the complex and often difficult Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His views were strong and shaped the actions of Hamas.
Hamas, the organization Yassin founded, was involved in attacks against Israel. It's important to know that many countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, regard Hamas as a terrorist organization. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Yassin the "mastermind of Palestinian terror" and held him responsible for many attacks that targeted civilians.
Yassin's statements about the conflict were often scrutinized. He made it clear that he did not fight Jews because of their religion. He stated, "We don't hate Jews and fight Jews because they are Jewish... If my brother, from my own mother and father and my own faith takes my homes and expels me from it, I will fight him." He believed the conflict was purely over land and rights. He saw the struggle as a defense of Palestinian homes and land.
Yassin's views on the peace process were complex. On one hand, he supported armed resistance against Israel, believing that Palestine was an Islamic land that no Arab leader had the right to give away. He famously declared that Israel "must disappear from the map" and that "We chose this road, and will end with martyrdom or victory." This strong rhetoric became a repeated message among many Palestinians.
On the other hand, Yassin also, on several occasions, proposed long-term ceasefire agreements, or truces (called "hudnas"), in exchange for Israel making certain concessions. For example, after his release from prison in 1997, he proposed a ten-year truce if Israel fully withdrew from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and stopped attacks on civilians. In 1999, he suggested a temporary ceasefire based on the 1967 borders, leaving bigger issues for future generations to decide. However, all such offers were rejected by Israel.
Assassination
On March 22, 2004, while Ahmed Yassin was being wheeled out of an early morning prayer session at a mosque in Gaza City, an Israeli AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship fired Hellfire missiles at him. Israeli F-16 jets flew overhead to mask the sound of the approaching helicopters. Yassin, his two bodyguards, and nine bystanders were killed instantly. Another 12 people, including two of Yassin's sons, were injured.
Reactions from Around the World
The killing of Ahmed Yassin sparked strong reactions globally. The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, condemned the killing. The UN Commission on Human Rights passed a resolution condemning it, with support from 31 countries. The Arab League and the African Union also expressed strong condemnation.
The Palestinian Authority declared three days of mourning, and schools were closed. About 200,000 people attended Yassin's funeral procession in the Gaza Strip. His death even led to Hamas being named the most popular movement in Palestine shortly after.
The Israeli government defended the targeted killing, stating that it was in response to numerous attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians. They viewed Yassin as the dominant authority of Hamas, directly involved in planning and approving these attacks. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz called Yassin "the Palestinian Bin Laden" and argued that the action was justified to prevent future attacks.
Leaders across the Middle East, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and the President of Lebanon, described the assassination as a "crime." Iran called it a "criminal act." In the Western world, British
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned it as "unlawful killing" and "unjustified," while acknowledging Israel's right to self-defense. U.S. President George W. Bush called the events "troubling" and emphasized the need for all parties to fight terror, stating that Israel had a right to defend itself but should keep consequences in mind for the path to peace.
After Yassin's death, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, his deputy, became the new leader of Hamas.
See also
In Spanish: Ahmed Yasín para niños
- Hamas
- Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi
- Muslim Brotherhood
