Hardliner emerging as new Hamas strongman

Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a hardliner who opposes even a temporary truce with Israel, is emerging as a Hamas strongman in the Palestinian areas after the assassination of the group’s founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin.

However, Rantisi, a 54-year-old paediatrician, is not expected to replace Yassin or take over the group.