GAZA CITY, March 23 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Abdelaziz Al-Rantissi has become the new leader of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the assassination of spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.

"According to Hamas statutes I will be the leader of the movement in the Gaza Strip since I had been elected deputy to Sheikh Yassin in the latest elections," Rantissi told IslamOnline.net.

Later, Rantissi told Aljazeera television that "the head of Hamas political bureau is Khaled Meshaal to whom we will remain obedient."

According to Hamas statues, the Damascus-based Meshaal, who has held the same post for several years, remains at the top of its hierarchy.

Addressing an audience of several of Hamas leaders and thousands of supporters, Rantissi called on the movement’s armed wing, the Ezzudin Al-Qassam Brigades "to teach Israel a lesson," reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"The door is open for you to strike all places, all the time and using all means…This enemy must come to the realization that we fear nothing," he said.

Rantissi also vowed that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel "Sharon and the Israelis will not know security. We will fight them until the liberation of Palestine, the whole of Palestine."

Speaking to AFP, he confirmed that "the Qassam Brigades have been tasked with avenging Sheikh Yassin and we are confident they will be able to teach this enemy a lesson he will not forget."

In the immediate aftermath of Sheikh Yassin's assassination, Rantissi asserted that war is "open" with Israel.