Mousa Abu Marzook
Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook (; born 9 January 1951) is a Palestinian senior member of Hamas. Early life and education Marzook's parents were from Yibna, Mandatory Palestine (now Yavne, Israel). They became refugees after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and were forced to move to the Rafah Camp in the Gaza Strip. Marzook was born there on 9 January 1951. He completed high school in Gaza, studied engineering in Cairo until 1976, and then looked for work in the Persian Gulf. He continued his studies in the U.S. obtaining a master's degree in construction management from Colorado State University. Marzook lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years and earned a Green Card in 1990. He is married with six children. Hamas involvement Marzook has been active in the Islamic political work since 1968, playing a significant role in reorganizing Hamas after the mass arrest of its members in 1989. Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar credits Abu Marzook's fundraising prowess, and his connections to donors in Europe and the US with saving the organization and developing its infrastructure in Gaza, including social service programs. Israel claims that some funds were used for attacks against Israel, a charge that Abu Marzouk denies. Abu Marzook was elected as the first Hamas political bureau chief in 1992, and since 1997 has been deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau. Marzook founded the Islamic Association of Palestine. According to U.S. officials, Marzook traveld to Tehran in October 1992 in his role as Hamas's de facto foreign minister. Exile Marzook lived in Jordan from 1998 to 2001. He then moved to Damascus, Syria in 2001. In 2012, Marzook was living in New Cairo, Egypt. At the outbreak of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, Marzook was residing in Doha, Qatar. Arrest U.S. immigration officials arrested Marzook after he arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City on 27 July 1995 due to his presence on a terrorist watch list. At the time, American and Israeli authorities claimed that Marzook was the head of Hamas's political committee and set the group's political and strategic policy, including the use of attacks. Marzook was held at the Manhattan Correctional Center. Marzook's attorney Stanley L. Cohen acknowledged that Marzook supported Hamas, but denied he was a leader in the group. In a statement, a Hamas official virtually acknowledged he was a Hamas leader. Although no formal charges placed against him. Two months after his detainment, Israel filed a request for the United States to extradite him. Marzouk fought the case for the next 2 years, but courts ruled in favor of his extradition. With no formal charges against him the United States released him, but not wanting him to remain, the United States contacted numerous Arab countries to allow Marzook residency. All refused, except Jordan, which reportedly agreed under U.S. pressure. Cohen continues to legally represent Marzook. Criminal charges in the US Marzook was listed as a Specially Designated Terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department in 1995, and is currently