Assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi
| Date | 17 April 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Palestine |
| Cause | Attacks against Israel |
| Target | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi |
| Perpetrator | Israel Defense Forces |
| Deaths | 3 |
On the evening of 17 April 2004, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, aged 56, was assassinated by missiles fired by Israeli warplanes on the car he was traveling in. In addition two of his bodyguards were killed. The operation was considered part of a campaign to eliminate the leaders of the groups fighting in the uprising. The assassination led to widespread condemnation around the world. Hamas spokesman Ismail Haniyeh vowed to avenge the death, saying the sacrifice would not be in vain.