Mahmoud Zahar

(1945- )

Mahmoud Zahar is a surgeon and lecturer at the Islamic University in Gaza. He is a member of the Council for Higher Education, and was elected in 1990 chaiman of the Arab Medical Association of Gaza.

Israeli Army Radio reported on April 18, 2004, that, following the assassination of Abdel Aziz Rantisi, Zahar became the leader of Hamas. He had been Rantisi's deputy. Hamas did not publicly announce Rantisi's successor out of fear that Israel would target him.

In 2006, following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian Authority elections, Zahar was appointed Foreign Minister.