Khaled Mashal Biography

(Political leader)

Birthday: May 28, 1956 (Gemini)

Born In: Ramallah

Khaled Meshaal is a political leader belonging to a religious Islamic family, who was born in Jordan-occupied Palestine. From a young age, he was witness to a lot of political strife, and once his family moved to Kuwait, he joined an organization called the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’. For some time, this science graduate taught Physics in Kuwait, simultaneously forming the ‘Islamic League’ for Palestinian students in Kuwait. After the organization ‘Hamas’ was formed, Khaled became an active member of the group, appearing regularly on the scene of Palestinian politics. After the ‘Gulf War’ in Kuwait, the young man shifted base to Jordan and within a few years, became the chairman of ‘Hamas’. Soon, he was a victim of a failed assassination attempt by Israeli special agents, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Jordan’s King Abdullah saved Khaled’s life, but the latter was immediately sent to exile in Qatar, from where he later moved to Syria. Since then, he has led his organization in a long-drawn fight between Israel and Palestine, in a bid to “free Jerusalem”. This political leader has also played a significant role against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the civil war that broke out in the country. Even though he abandoned his organization in the face of crisis, he was re-elected as Chairman of ‘Hamas’, recently, and has continued to lead Palestine in the war against Israel
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Quick Facts

Age: 67 Years, 67 Year Old Males

Political Leaders Male Leaders

political ideology: Political party-Hamas

More Facts

education: 1978 - Kuwait University

Childhood & Early Life
Khaled Meshaal was born in Silwad, when Palestine was occupied by Jordan, on May 28, 1956.
Till 1967, the young boy pursued his primary education from the 'Silwad Elementary School', after which the family shifted to Kuwait, owing to monetary constraints.
In 1971, Khaled became a member of the 'Muslim Brotherhood', an Islamist Organization formed in Egypt.
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Career
He graduated in Physics from the 'Kuwait University', in 1978. The same year he was appointed as a teacher at the university.
In 1980, Meshaal formed the 'al-rabita al-islamiyya li talabat filastin' ('Islamic league for Palestinian Students'), and continued to work as a teacher in Kuwait for the next four years.
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin co-established the Islamic resistance movement called 'Hamas', in 1987, which Meshaal joined and the latter started heading the branch in Kuwait. Khaled also served as a representative of the ‘Political Bureau of Hamas’ from the time of its formation.
After Iraq attacked Kuwait in the Gulf War of 1991, the bureaucrat shifted to Jordan, and began working for 'Hamas'. Five years later, he was appointed as the Chairman of the organization.
On September 25 1997, agents of the Israeli intelligence organization, 'Mossad', pretended to be tourists from Canada, and attempted to murder the ‘Hamas’ leader by spraying poison into his ears. This assassination attempt, carried out under the orders of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu failed, and the Israeli special agents were arrested.
After King Abdullah of Jordan threatened to sever relationships between Israel and his country, Netanyahu sent the antidote for the poison, thus saving Khaled's life.
In 1999, King Abdullah alleged that ‘Hamas’ was only a means of spoiling the cordial relationships that Israel and Jordan had, and leaders of the organization, like Meshaal and Mousa Abu Marzook, amongst others, were promptly arrested.
They were accused of illegal activities, including fund collection methods and the possession of arms. He was forced to move to Qatar, but later settled in Damascus, Syria in 2001.
On March 22, 2004, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was assassinated by Israeli forces and Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi was named as the next spiritual leader of 'Hamas'. Within a month the latter was also killed in attacks by Israeli aircrafts, resulting in the election of Khaled as the head of the organization.
In 2006, ‘Hamas’ won the parliamentary elections in Palestine by a majority of votes, against the ‘Fatah’ political party. The next year, members of both political organizations fought for almost a week and finally Khaled’s party gained control of the Gaza Strip in Palestine.
In 2008, he was visited by former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who tried to negotiate the formation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, near Jordan and Israel.
In 2011, President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas met Khaled and signed a peace treaty between 'Hamas' and 'Fatah'.
When the ‘Syrian Civil War’ broke out, ‘Hamas’ had a major role to play against the President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad. In the face of the ensuing riots, Khaled escaped from the branch of ‘Hamas’ in Damascus.
Meshaal visited Jordan in 2012, along with Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Crown Prince of Qatar, to meet King Abdullah. The same year, the former travelled to Doha, the capital of Qatar, and settled down there. In December he visited Gaza and promised to free Jerusalem, which is considered by both Palestine and Israel as their capital.
In 2013, Khaled was once again chosen by the members of ‘Hamas’ as the chairman of its political bureau. The next year Israel attacked Gaza in what is called ‘Operation Protective Edge’, and almost three thousand people were killed in the war.
Major Works
This politician is most famous for being the leader of ‘Hamas’, an organization that has been fighting against Israel for quite some time, in an attempt to capture Jerusalem for Palestine. The organization has been deemed as “terrorist” by nations like Israel, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. It has been banned in Jordan, but is considered legal in places like Qatar, Iran and Russia.
Personal Life & Legacy
Khaled got married in 1981, and has four sons and three daughters with his wife.

See the events in life of Khaled Mashal in Chronological Order

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Article Title
- Khaled Mashal Biography
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URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/khaled-mashal-5906.php

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