Correct Answer:
B. Sheikh Ahmad Yasin
The correct answer is Sheikh Ahmad Yasin. HAMAS, the Islamic Resistance Movement, was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, with Sheikh Ahmad Yasin as its spiritual leader and primary founder.
Origins and Leadership of HAMAS
- Founding Context: HAMAS emerged in December 1987, just days after the outbreak of the First Intifada against Israeli occupation. It began as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, combining Palestinian nationalism with Islamist ideology.
- Sheikh Ahmad Yasin's Role: A quadriplegic cleric who had been active in charitable and religious work in Gaza for decades, Yasin articulated the movement's charter and goals. He remained its spiritual leader until his assassination by Israel in 2004.
- Distinguishing Other Figures: Yasser Arafat was the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and leader of Fatah, a rival political faction. Khaled Mashal and Ismail Haniyeh are prominent HAMAS figures but came to leadership roles later; Mashal served as head of the political bureau, and Haniyeh was a prime minister in the HAMAS government in Gaza, but neither founded the movement.
- Charter and Military Wing: HAMAS's founding charter called for the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state. Its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was formed later to carry out armed resistance.
Therefore, the correct founder of HAMAS is Sheikh Ahmad Yasin.