Khaled Mashal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Khaled Mashal
خالد مشعل |
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Mashal in 2009
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| Acting Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau |
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| Covering duties 16 October 2024 Serving with Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and an unnamed Hamas official
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| Preceded by | Yahya Sinwar |
| Succeeded by | TBA |
| Covered duties 31 July 2024 – 6 August 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Ismail Haniyeh |
| Succeeded by | Yahya Sinwar |
| 2nd Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau |
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| In office 1996 – 6 May 2017 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Mousa Abu Marzook |
| Succeeded by | Ismail Haniyeh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 May 1956 Silwad, Jordanian West Bank |
| Political party | Hamas |
| Spouse |
Amal Saleh Al-Boureni
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 7 |
| Residences | Silwad, West Bank (1956–1967) Kuwait City, Kuwait (1967–1990) Amman, Jordan (1990–1999) Doha, Qatar (1999–2001) Damascus, Syria (2001–2012) Doha, Qatar (2012–present) |
| Alma mater | Kuwait University (BSc) |
Khaled Mashal (Arabic: خالد مشعل, romanized: Khālid Mashʿal; born 28 May 1956) is a Palestinian politician. He was the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau from 1996 to 2017. Later, Ismail Haniyeh took over this role.
Mashal has also served as the acting leader of Hamas two times. First, from July to August 2024, and again since October 2024. He became a very important leader for Hamas after the deaths of Ahmed Yassin and his successors.
His family had to leave Palestine during the 1967 Six-Day War. Since then, he has lived in other Arab countries. Because of this, he was seen as part of Hamas's "external leadership."
After Hamas was founded in 1987, Mashal became a leader in Kuwait. In 1992, he helped create Hamas's political office, called the politburo. He became its chairman in 1996. Under his leadership, Hamas won many seats in the 2006 Palestinian election. Mashal stepped down from his role in 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Mashal was born in 1956 in Silwad, which was then part of the West Bank under Jordanian control. He went to elementary school there. His father was a farmer who moved to Kuwait in 1957 to work.
In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank during the Six-Day War. Mashal's family then moved to Jordan and later joined his father in Kuwait. He finished high school in Kuwait and joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1971.
In 1974, Mashal started studying at Kuwait University. He became active in student politics. He led a student group focused on Palestinian Islamic ideas. He earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1978.
In 1975, when he was 19, Mashal visited Palestine for two months. This trip made him feel even more connected to his homeland.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
After college, Mashal taught physics in Kuwait until 1984. In 1983, a meeting of Palestinian Islamic groups took place. This meeting helped set up Hamas. Mashal was part of the leaders of this project. After 1984, he worked full-time on this effort. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Mashal and other Hamas leaders moved to Jordan.
Mashal was a founding member of Hamas's politburo. He became its chairman in 1996. This happened after the previous chairman, Mousa Abu Marzook, was arrested.
Surviving an Attack
On 25 September 1997, agents from Mossad (Israel's intelligence agency) tried to harm Mashal. They entered Jordan using fake passports. Two agents waited outside Hamas offices in Amman, Jordan. As Mashal entered, one agent put a device near his ear. This device gave him a fast-acting poison.
Mashal's bodyguards noticed something was wrong. They chased and caught the agents. Mashal soon felt very sick and was taken to a hospital. His condition got worse quickly.
Jordan's King Hussein demanded that Israel provide the medicine for the poison. He threatened to end diplomatic ties and put the captured agents on trial. King Hussein worried that Mashal's death could cause unrest in Jordan. The U.S. President Bill Clinton stepped in. He convinced Israel's Prime Minister to give the medicine.
The head of Mossad flew to Jordan with the medicine. It saved Mashal's life. In return, Israel released Ahmed Yassin and many other Palestinian prisoners.
Mashal later said this event made him feel stronger. He believed he would only die when God decided, not when others tried to harm him.
Leaving Jordan
In August 1999, King Abdullah II of Jordan asked Hamas leaders to leave the country. The King was concerned that Hamas's activities might affect peace talks. He also said Hamas was doing illegal things in Jordan.
In September 1999, some Hamas leaders, including Mashal, were arrested. They were accused of being part of an illegal group and storing weapons. Mashal denied these charges. He was asked to leave Jordan in November. He first moved to Qatar and then to Damascus, Syria, in 2001.
Election Success
Hamas won most of the seats in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election in 2006.
Mashal stated that Hamas would not give up its weapons. However, he said Hamas was willing to work with other Palestinian groups. He wanted to form an army like any independent country.
Prisoner Exchange
Mashal played a part in talks to exchange prisoners. This deal involved releasing an Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit. In return, over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel would be freed. Shalit was captured near the Gaza Strip border by Palestinian groups, including Hamas.
In July 2006, Mashal said Shalit was a prisoner of war. He asked for a prisoner swap, but Israel first refused.
In June 2008, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. This agreement was made with help from Egypt. Part of the deal was that Israel would allow more goods into Gaza. Talks about Shalit's release were also expected to continue.
In October 2009, after a small exchange of prisoners for a video of Shalit, Mashal said they would try to capture more soldiers. This was to help free more Palestinian prisoners.
Finally, in October 2011, Gilad Shalit was released. He was exchanged for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Leaving Syria
In February 2012, as the Syrian civil war continued, Mashal left Syria. He moved back to Qatar. Hamas decided to distance itself from the Syrian government. Mashal then announced his support for the groups opposing the Syrian government.
Visiting Gaza
In December 2012, Mashal visited Gaza for the first time. This was after a conflict between Israel and Hamas. His visit lasted four days and marked the 25th anniversary of Hamas's founding.
When he arrived at the Rafah border, Mashal knelt down in prayer. He was very emotional about the warm welcome he received. Mashal called his visit his "third birth." He hoped for a "fourth birth," which would be the day all of Palestine is free. He told the cheering crowds that politicians owed a lot to the people of Gaza.
During his visit, Mashal went to the homes of important Hamas figures. He spoke to large crowds in Gaza City. He repeated that Hamas would not give up any part of historical Palestine. He said that Palestine, from the river to the sea, was their land. However, he also supported Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's efforts to gain international recognition for the State of Palestine at the United Nations. He believed diplomacy helped the Palestinian cause, but it needed to be combined with "resistance." At the end of his visit, Mashal stressed that Palestinian unity was very important.
Stepping Down
Mashal stepped down as chairman of the politburo in 2017. Ismail Haniyeh, who lived in Gaza, took his place. This change showed a shift in power. It moved from Hamas leaders living outside to those living in Gaza. Before leaving his role, Mashal presented the 2017 Hamas charter. This was an effort to make sure future leaders followed similar policies.
His Beliefs
Mashal thinks that U.S. policy in the Middle East is not fair. He believes the U.S. supports dictators who agree with them. But they treat democratic leaders who disagree as enemies.
About Hamas
Mashal believes Hamas's main goals are to end the Israeli occupation. He wants to free the land and holy places. He also wants to bring back Palestinian rights. This includes allowing refugees to return to their homes. He also wants to reclaim Jerusalem. Mashal hopes for a future Palestinian state that is open to the world. He wants it to be tolerant and accept everyone.
Peace with Israel
Mashal believes that peace with Israel needs two things. First, Palestinian refugees who left or were forced out in 1948 should be allowed to return. Second, Israel should leave the areas it took control of in the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel has stated it would not agree to let the refugees return.
Yasser Arafat
Mashal often criticized Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. He sometimes refused to follow Arafat's orders about ceasefires with Israel.
Gaza Blockade
Mashal believed that by blocking Gaza, Israel hoped to make people suffer. He thought this would make them turn against Hamas. He disagreed with Israel's claim that the blockade was needed for security. He argued that the blockade went against international law.
Recognition
In 2010, the British New Statesman magazine listed Khaled Mashal. He was number 18 on their list of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010."
Personal Life
Mashal married Amal Saleh Al-Boureni in 1980 or 1981. They have three daughters and four sons. He currently lives in Qatar, where he moved in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Jaled Meshal para niños
- List of leaders of Hamas
