Ismail Abu Shanab

Ismail Abu Shanab (; 195021 August 2003) was a Palestinian engineer and one of the founders of Hamas. He was one of its three most senior leaders in Gaza. More specifically, he was the second highest leader of Hamas only after Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He was also the political leader of Hamas, who was strongly against suicide bombings and in favor of a long-term truce.

Early life and education Shanab was born in the central Gaza refugee camp of Nuseirat in 1950. After working four years in Gaza city, Shanab went to the US and obtained a master of science degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University.

Career and activities Shanab returned to Gaza city in 1977 after completing his undergraduate studies, and he worked at the municipal council until 1981. The security forces of the Palestinian Authority arrested and detained the Hamas leaders, including Shanab, Abdulaziz Rantisi, and Mohammad Namer Hamdan, without any charge on 6 August 1999.

Then Shanab began to serve as Hamas observer in the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also became one of the spokespersons of Hamas' political wing in Gaza. His role as spokesperson was notable in that he was Hamas's most visible spokesperson in the western media. Shanab participated in the 2002 and 2003 peace talks as a Hamas representative. Shanab was one of the supporters of ceasefire declared by armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, on 29 June 2003.

Shanab was the third-in-command in Hamas, behind Abdulaziz Rantisi and Mahmud Zahar and in front of Ismail Haniya before his assassination in August 2003.

Views Shanab represented Hamas's more moderate and pragmatic side, although he was subject to Yassin's leadership and committed to Hamas' ideology. Unlike Yassin, he supported a long-term ceasefire with Israel and a two-state solution. On the other hand, he argued that group decision-making is better than individual decision-making, even though the individual is right showing his readiness to comply with Hamas's decisions. Although he did not advocate for suicide bombing attacks, which he called a primitive weapon, he stated "But, it’s all we have and it’s less harmful than F-16s loaded with tons of explosives."

Personal life Shanab was married and had nine children (five daughters and four sons). His eldest son, Hassan, studied computer engineering in the United States. His youngest son, Mesk, was two years old when Shanab was killed.

Shanab lived in the community of Eshaikh Radhwan, north of Gaza City. In the attack, an Apache helicopter fired three or four missiles at the car. The assassination occurred in retaliation for the suicide bombing of a Jerusalem bus on 19 August 2003, killing twenty mostly orthodox Jews, including six children. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement after the assassination and described Shanab as a senior terrorist and Hamas operative.

Consequences The major consequence of his assassination was that the three-month ceasefire that had been declared on 29 June 2003 was terminated by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades The other consequence was that Hamas continued its suicide attacks that had been stopped for a while.

Funeral Nearly 100,000 people attended the funeral ceremony for Shanab held in Gaza City on 22 August 2003.