MASHAAL, KHALED

(1956- )

Born in 1956 in the Silwad neighborhood of Ramallah in theWest Bank, the senior political leader ofHamasis believed by Israel to be "responsible for the murder of innocent civilians." TwoMossadagents bungled an attempted assassination of Mashaal on 25 September 1997 in Amman,Jordan. Since the death ofHamasfounderSheikh Ahmed Ismail Yassinin 2004, Mashaal's influence over Hamas has grown and he was appointed the world leader of Hamas. He is based in Damascus,Syria. He has fostered a warmer relationship for Hamas with Iran that includes the unprecedented transfer of Iranian arms and funds to Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip smuggled through tunnels from theSinai Desert.

See alsoMashaal affair.