Sheikh Ahmed YasinImage Credit source: TV9 Graphics
Today, Hamas, an organization that acts as a barrier between Israel and Palestine, is famous all over the world. Non-Islamic countries consider it a terrorist, rebel or extremist organization but it was started to protect their country, protect towns and uproot the invading Israelis. This organization has been troubling Israel since its inception. It was started by Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, born in a small village in Palestine, whose house was destroyed by the Israeli army with a bulldozer. Let us know the whole story of Yasin.
His birthplace was bulldozed, along with more than 500 Palestinian towns and villages, following the occupation of Palestine in 1948. Born in 1936 in Al-Jura village of Palestine, Yasin later shifted to Gaza Strip with his family. This incident happened when he was 12 years old and like the entire village, he too was a victim.
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Studied in Egypt, became a respected leader of Gaza
Despite his physical limitations, Yassin attended Egypt’s Ain Shams University in 1959. However, due to financial constraints he later had to leave his studies. He returned to Gaza deeply influenced by Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. Devoted to Islamic studies and teaching Arabic, Yassin became a respected religious leader in Gaza.
When and why did Ahmed Yasin create Hamas?
In 1983, Sheikh Yassin was arrested by Israeli forces in Gaza and sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly forming an underground organization and possessing weapons. After two years, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange. In 1987 he founded Hamas. He was the leader of the Gaza-based Muslim Brotherhood at that time.
Hamas is a movement that intends to expel and overthrow the aggressor Israel. Hamas and all of Palestine consider Israel the aggressor, who occupied the entire country, where Palestine is today on the verge of extinction. He was arrested again in 1989 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. This time he was accused of inciting violence and ordering the killing of an Israeli soldier. The father of 11 children spent eight years in jail this time and two sons voluntarily went to jail to help him.
Yasin was critical of Palestine Authority
As leader of Hamas, Ahmed Yassin advocated armed resistance against Israeli occupation and was critical of the Palestinian Authority for not prioritizing this option in negotiations with Israel. The Palestine Authority looks after the administration under non-Israeli occupation. Apart from these, there is joint rule between Israel and Palestine Authority in some areas but Israel has more dominance. Yasin was released in 1997 after an agreement between Israel and Jordan’s King Hussein. After this he remained continuously ill. He lost his eye in jail. He suffered from respiratory diseases and hearing loss. Meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and Palestine continued.
Attempt to assassinate Israel, died in airstrike in 2004
Yassin proposed several ceasefire initiatives with Israel during the uprising that began in September 2000. Demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem and appealed to stop the killings of Palestinian activists. After this Israel made several attempts to assassinate him. In September 2003, the Israeli army bombed Gaza city with F-16 fighter jets. He survived this attack but got injured. Later, on March 22, 2004, while going for morning prayers, Israel carried out a helicopter strike, killing him along with 9 other people.
Source: www.tv9hindi.com”