Khaled Mashal is a renowned Palestinian politician. He was among the leaders of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamist movement Ḥamas. He served as the organization’s leader
from 1996 until 2017.
Khaled Mashal was the leader of the Kuwaiti branch of the Hama movement. He was among the founders of Hamas Politburo and later its chairman after the imprisonment of his predecessor, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, in 1995.
Summary about Khaled Mashal’s biography
- Full name: Khaled Mashal
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 28 March 1956
- Age: 67 years old
- Place of birth: Silwad, Jordanian West Bank.
- Residence: Doha, Qatar
- Religion: Islamic
- Nationality: Palestinian, Jordanian
- Marital status: Married
- Wife: Amal Saleh Al Boureni
- Children: 7
- Father: Abd al-Qadir Mashal
- Net worth: $4 billion
- Profession: Physics teacher, politician
- Alma mater: Silwal Elementary School, Kuwaiti University
Who is Khaled Mashal?
The Palestinian politician was born in Silwad, Jordanian West Bank. His father, Abd al-Qadir Mashal, was a farmer. Khaled’s father moved to Kuwait in 1957 to work as an agricultural labourer and imam. The preacher was among those who participated in the 1936–1939 Arab revolt with the Palestinian guerilla leader Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni.
Mashal’s family fled to Jordan after the 1967 Six-Day War, during which Israel occupied the West Bank. Later, they joined Abd al-Qadir in Kuwait.
What is Khaled Mashal’s age?
As of 2023, Khaled is 67 years old. He was born on 28 May 1956, and celebrates his birthday on 28 May every year. His birth sign is Gemini.
Education
Mashal attended Silwal Elementary School until fifth grade before relocating to Kuwait, where he completed high school. In 1970, he enrolled at Abdullah al-Salim Secondary School for his secondary education. After completing high school, he joined Kuwaiti University and became involved in student politics. In 1978, he graduated with a bachelor of science in physics.
Who is Khaled Mashal’s wife?
The Palestinian politician’s wife is Amal Saleh Al Boureni. Mashal married her when he was 25 years old in early 1980. The couple is blessed with seven children: three sons and three daughters.
Alwaleed Khaled Mashal is one of his sons. Little is known about Khaled Mashal’s sons and siblings as they have been kept from the spotlight.
Professional career
Upon completing his university education, Meshaal remained in Kuwait, where he taught physics until 1984. He later devoted himself to serving the organisation full-time. In 1987, the organisation went public as Ḥamās. This was after the outbreak of a Palestinian uprising, the first intifada.
Meshal fled to Jordan from Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
In 1992, Meshaal was named a member of the Hamas political bureau, politburo, that operated in exile. The bureau was in charge of Hamas’ international relations and fundraising activities. Meshaal was elected head of the politburo in 1996.
What is Khaled Mashal’s net worth?
Khaled Mashal’s net worth is estimated to be $4 billion. He has earned his wealth mainly from his teaching and political career.
Khaled Mashal’s assassination attempt
In September 1997, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet allegedly ordered Mossad agents to assassinate Mashal in retribution for Ḥamās’ suicide bombings. The agents were disguised as tourists and entered Jordan on fake Canadian passports.
Two of them waited at the entrance of the Hamas offices in Jordan’s capital, Amman. As Mashal walked into his office, one of the assailants held a device to Mashal’s left ear that transmitted a fast-acting poison.
As a result, Mashal developed a severe headache and began vomiting. He was rushed to a Jordanian hospital, where his condition rapidly deteriorated. However, Mashal’s security officers captured all the agents involved in Khaled Mashal’s assignation attempt.
Following the incident, Jordan’s King, Hussein, demanded that Netanyahu turn over the antidote for the poison, threatening to sever diplomatic relations. He also demanded for immediate detention of Mossad agents who carryout the heinous act. Hussein made these demands for fear that the death of the Hamas leader would trigger riots in his kingdom.
Netanyahu failed to comply, making the incident accelerate to political significance. Consequently, the Jordanian King threatened to end the historic 1994 peace between the Israeli and Jordan if Mashal died.
The former U.S President Bill Clinton intervened and compelled Netanyahu to turn over the antidote. Shortly after, Netanyahu allowed the head of Mossad, Danny Yatom, to fly the antidote to Jordan.
The doctors at King Hussein Medical Center administered the antidote, which saved Mashal’s life. In exchange, the two Mossad agents captured by Mashal’s bodyguards were released.
King Hussein demanded the release of the other agents in exchange for Ahmed Yassin and other Palestinian prisoners. When asked about his attempted assassination in an interview, Khaled Mashal’s statement was,
It made me more positive about life. I became more courageous in the face of death. My faith became stronger that a man does not die until his time comes. That is, I will die when God decides, not when Mossad decides.
Khaled Mashal’s arrest and resignation
In September 1999, Mashal was arrested among other Hamas prominent leaders like Ibrahim Ghosheh on their return from a visit to Iran. They were charged with being members of an illegal organization, conducting military exercises, and using Jordan as a training base, among other things. They, however, denied the charges.
In 2004, Marshall became the Hamas central figure. This was after the Israeli government assassinated both the Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and his successor, Abd al-Aziz al-Rantissi. Under his leadership, Hamas won most of the seats in the Palestinian legislative election in 2006.
In 2017, Mashal resigned as the chairman of the politburo. He was succeeded by Ismail Haniyeh, a Gaza Strip resident.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Khaled Mashal?
He is a Palestinian politician and former leader of Hamas.
What is Khaled Mashal’s age?
He is 67 years old.
What is Khaled Mashal’s religion?
He follows the Islamic religion.
Where does Khaled Meshaal live?
He currently resides in Doha, Qatar.
Who is Amal Saleh Al Boureni?
She is Khaled Mashal’s wife; the two got married in 1980.
What is Khaled Mashal’s net worth?
His fortune is $4 billion.
Conclusion
Khaled Mashal is a famous Palestinian politician. He is also the former head of the militant organization Hamas. After the founding of Hamas in 1987, Mashal became the leader of the Kuwaiti branch of the organization. In 2004, Mashal became the recognized leader of Hamas following the assassination of the then-Hama leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abd al-Aziz al-Rantissi.