Khaled Meshaal became Hamas's political leader when its founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was assassinated by Israel in 2004.

BBC: Hamas re-elects Khaled Meshaal as political leader

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the Islamic group's founder, was then placed under house arrest.

ECONOMIST: Palestinians

The kidnappers were demanding the release of their leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and 200 Hamas extremists being held in Israeli jails.

BBC: 14 October

This was scotched late last month when Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Hamas's spiritual leader, returned to Gaza from his triumphant tour round Arab capitals.

ECONOMIST: The Palestinians

Mr Meshaal was appointed a leader of Hamas in 2004, after Israel assassinated the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and his successor Abdel Aziz Rantissi.

BBC: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal 'to step down'

Rantissi took over the leadership of the militant Islamic movement Hamas in Gaza after the killing of the group's spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March.

BBC: NEWS | Middle East | Profile: Hamas leader Rantissi

Militants claiming to represent Hamas said that it was reponsible and gave warning of more attacks unless Palestinian prisoners, including the movement's leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, were released by August 3rd.

ECONOMIST: Carnage in Jerusalem

The embassy statement said it has no specific threat against Americans in the UAE, but that the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution after Israel's assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin outside a Gaza mosque Monday.

CNN: Bomb threat closes U.S. Embassy in UAE