Abdel Aziz Rantisi

Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a 54-year-old pediatrician, told tens of thousands of cheering Hamas supporters at a Gaza City soccer stadium that he was chosen in secret elections.

The announcement came a day after Israel assassinated Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin and hours after it renewed threats to try to kill the entire Hamas leadership ahead of a possible withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

In his acceptance speech, Rantisi made his priorities clear. "My people, we must unify under the umbrella of resistance," he said, and exhorted the Hamas military wing to "teach this Zionist occupation a lesson."

Rantisi has rejected even a temporary truce with Israel and any compromise with Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority. His aggressive style is particularly popular with younger Hamas activists.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 3, 2004
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