| Date | 22 March 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | Sabra, Gaza Strip |
| Type | Airstrike from helicopter |
| Target | Ahmed Yassin |
| Perpetrator | IDF |
| Deaths | 10 |
On 22 March 2004, the Palestinian leader and one of the founders of the Hamas militant organization, Ahmed Yassin, 67, was assassinated in Gaza City. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was returning from performing the Fajr prayer,[1] and his companions were also killed immediately.[2] His assassination caused a state of anger and Palestinian factions vowed revenge, with Hamas saying that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "opened the gates of hell." Shortly after the attack, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi took over the leadership of the movement in the Gaza Strip.[3]
Yassin survived an attempt on his life on 6 September 2003.[4] According to Israeli radio, Sharon personally supervised the attack on Yassin.[5]
- ^ "Yassin was ideological force behind Hamas". NBC News. 22 March 2004.
- ^ Bennet, James (22 March 2004). "Leader of Hamas Killed by Missile in Israeli Strike". The New York Times.
- ^ Hill, Don (8 April 2008). "Middle East: Rantisi, Mashal Chosen To Lead Hamas After Yassin Assassination". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – via www.rferl.org.
- ^ "Hamas founder targeted in Gaza airstrike". CNN. 6 September 2003.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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