Nizar Rayan

Nizar Rayan
Rayan at a press conference 23 September 2005 in Gaza. (AFP)
Leader in Hamas
In office 2004 – 1 January 2009
Preceded by	Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
Personal details
Born	(1959-03-06)6 March 1959 Jabalia, Gaza Strip
Died	1 January 2009(2009-01-01) (aged 49) Jabalia, Gaza Strip
Cause of death	Airstrike
Nationality	Palestinian
Political party	Hamas
Spouse	4 (all deceased)
Children	12
Alma mater	Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Omdurman Islamic University, University of Jordan
Occupation	Professor of Islamic law
Known for	Hamas leadership

Nizar Rayan (Arabic: نزار ريان, Nɩzár Rɑȋán, also transliterated Rayyan; 6 March 1959 – 1 January 2009) was a high-ranking Hamas leader who served as a liaison between the Palestinian organization's political leadership and its military wing. Also a professor of Islamic law, he became a top Islamic cleric within Hamas after the death of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 2004. Rayan was a strong promoter between 1994 and 2004 of suicide bombings on Israel, and his son killed himself on one such mission. Rayan and most of his family were killed in an Israeli airstrike during the Gaza War.