Salah Shehadeh

Hamas affiliate since the movement's early days; leader of Hamas' military wing Izz Eddin Al-Qassam; served as a close personal aide to spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, as a possible future heir of whom he was seen by many. Spent time in Israeli jails. Accused by Israel to be the mastermind behind many attacks against Israeli targets and involved in the production of the "Kassam" rockets. As such on Israel's most-wanted list; targetted by Israel several times but managed to escape and spent long periods underground; eventually assassinated on 23 July 2002, when an Israeli warplane blew up his house in Gaza. In the attack another 14 people were killed, incl. his wife and children.