Editing Ahmed Yassin (section)

===Involvement in attacks on Israel===
{{See also|List of Hamas suicide attacks}}
Yassin was a founder and leader of Hamas, which is regarded as a terrorist organization by Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Boffey |first=Daniel |date=2017-07-26 |title=EU court upholds Hamas terror listing |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/26/eu-court-upholds-hamas-terror-listing |access-date=2023-12-17 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=26 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726104628/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/26/eu-court-upholds-hamas-terror-listing |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="terr">* Also:  Banned in [[Jordan]]—Karmi, Omar. [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=22307 "What does the Hamas victory mean for nearby Jordan?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004175933/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=22307 |date=4 October 2009}}, ''The Daily Star'', 18 February 2006
* Australia lists the militant wing of Hamas, the [[Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades]], as a terrorist organization--[http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/95FB057CA3DECF30CA256FAB001F7FBD?OpenDocument Listing of Terrorist Organisations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204040731/http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/95FB057CA3DECF30CA256FAB001F7FBD?OpenDocument |date=4 February 2014 }}, Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, 27 January 2006; retrieved 31 July 2006.
* United Kingdom lists the militant wing of Hamas, the [[Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades]], as a terrorist organization--[http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/legislation/current-legislation/terrorism-act-2000/proscribed-terrorist-groups?version=1 " United Kingdom Home Security Office. Terrorism Act 2000. Proscribed terrorist groups]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] characterized Yassin as the "mastermind of Palestinian terror" and a "mass murderer".<ref name=csm /> The [[Israeli government]] repeatedly asserted that Yassin was responsible for a number of terrorist attacks, which targeted and killed civilians.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2004/3/Behind%20the%20Headlines-%20Ahmed%20Yassin%2022-Mar-2004 |title=Behind the Headlines: Ahmed Yassin 22-Mar-2004 |publisher=Mfa.gov.il |access-date=11 June 2010 |archive-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220105932/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2004/3/Behind%20the%20Headlines-%20Ahmed%20Yassin%2022-Mar-2004 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1997, Yassin proposed a halt of attacks on Israel, if Israel withdrew from the [[West Bank]] and Gaza.<ref>{{cite book|last=Filiu|year=2014|title=Gaza: A History|page=243|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref>

In his statement Yassin declared that Hamas did target Israeli civilians, but only in direct retaliation for the death of Palestinian civilians. In his thinking this was a necessary tactic to "show the Israelis they could not get away without a price for killing our people."<ref>{{cite web |first=Faisal |last=Bodi |title=My Meeting with Sheikh Yasin |work=Al Jazeera |language=en |date=25 March 2004 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/3/25/my-meeting-with-shaikh-yasin |access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref> In June 2003, after visiting al-Rantisi in hospital after a failed Israeli missile attack against him, Yassin told reporters: "Israel is targeting Palestinian civilians, so Israeli civilians should be targeted. From now on, all Israeli people are targets." "We got Israel's message. They should now expect the answer."<ref name = "mmr2003jun">{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-196566/ |title=Chronological Review of Events Relating to the Question of Palestine |publisher=United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights |date=June 2003 |access-date=1 November 2023 |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215094732/https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-196566/ |url-status=live }}</ref>