Said Seyam
Said Seyam | |
---|---|
Interior Minister of the Gaza Strip | |
In office June 2007 – January 2009 | |
Prime Minister | Ismail Haniyeh |
Preceded by | Office Created |
Succeeded by | Fathi Hamad |
Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority | |
In office March 2006 – March 2007 | |
Preceded by | Nasser Yousef |
Succeeded by | Hani Talab al-Qawasmi |
Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council | |
In office January 2006 – January 2009 | |
Constituency | Gaza |
Personal details | |
Born | 22 July 1959 Al-Shati, Gaza Strip |
Died | 15 January 2009 (aged 49) Jabalia, Gaza Strip |
Cause of death | Israeli airstrike |
Nationality | Palestinian |
Political party | Hamas |
Children | 6 (2 sons, 4 daughters) |
Education | Al-Quds Open University |
Said Seyam (
Early life and education
Said Seyam was born on 22 July 1959 in the
Hamas membership
It is unknown when Seyam joined Hamas, but he was one of the early members. Seyam held a job as a teacher at various
Seyam was reported by Hamas as one of the pioneer of mortar and Qassam rocket attacks on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, which caused them to be virtually besieged from 2001 to their evacuation by Israel in September 2005.[citation needed] According to his fighters, Seyam was injured three times during that period, although the causes of these injuries were not disclosed. Seyam was the second of Hamas' top five officials to be killed during Israel's offensive.[5] He had evaded at least one attempt by the IDF to kill him in late 2004.[citation needed] Seyam became one of the members of the Hamas "collective leadership" in Gaza after the 2004 killings of founders Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.[3]
Seyam was close to Yassin and Hamas secretary-general
Personal life
He had six children: two boys and four girls.[1]
Death
Said Seyam was killed on 15 January 2009 in an Israeli air raid on his brother's rented home in Jabalia.[4] Also killed in the strike were his son, brother and two other Hamas officials: the interior ministry's security director Saleh Abu Sharkh and the local leader of the Hamas militia, Mahmoud Abu Watfah.[1] Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated "Some of our leaders will fall, some of our people will fall, but the flag of resistance won't fall" in response to Seyam's death.[3] Hamas members stated on Al-Aqsa TV that Seyam's "blood will be the fuel for the coming victory [against Israel]".[6]
References
- ^ a b c "Key Hamas leader killed in Gaza". BBC. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
- ^ Greenberg, Hanan (15 January 2009). "Israel says killed Hamas interior minister". Ynet. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Obituary: Hamas leader Said Siyam". BBC. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Israeli jets kill Hamas leader Al Jazeera. 15 January 2009.
- ^ "Slain Hamas minister was key figure in '07 Gaza coup". Haaretz. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- CNN News. 2009.
External links
- AFP Article Archived 21 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Said Siam Obituary from The Guardian
- "Hamas leader denies disputes with Abbas on new cabinet formation", Xinhua, 12 March 2006.
- Analysis: Security kingpin held Gaza in iron grip Analysis of factional struggles between Fatah and Hamas in the wake of Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007