The Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting Palestinian surgeon Dr. Mahmoud al Zahar is the man Hamas has secretly appointed to take over the group following the assassination of Rantisi. Hamas has not publicly named Rantisi’s successor fearing he will become a target for assassination. Rantisi took over Hamas in March following the assassination of the Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Al Zahar is based in Gaza and is one of the few remaining founders of Hamas. He is seen as one of the movement’s ideological leaders and has been targeted by Israel before. In September Israeli F-16s bombed his home killing his son and bodyguard.