A Palestinian mother carries her newborn Ahmad Yassin

By Ahmad Abu Aklin, IOL Correspondent

GAZA CITY, March 24 (IslamOnline.net) – At least 15 newborn babies have been named after Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas, since his assassination in an Israeli air strike few days ago.

Palestinian mothers have given birth to eight Ahmad Yassins in Al-Shifaa hospital in Gaza City over the past 48 hours alone and seven others were registered in hospitals across the Gaza Strip, hospital sources told IslamOnline.net Wednesday, March 24.

The deputy director of Al-Shifaa hospital’s obstetrics department, Dr. Akram Al-Husseini, said five babies were given the name of Sheikh Yassin the day after his assassination.

The 66-year-old wheelchair-bound Yassin was assassinated along with eight others in an Israeli missile strike on his way home after performing the dawn prayers.

“Even pregnant women are praying to have baby boys to name them after Ahmad Yassin,” he said.

Al-Husseini added that a Palestinian mother, Noha Yassin, was the first to give her baby the name just 30 minutes after the ugly Israeli crime.

The father, Jabr Yassin, told IOL he is proud to name his baby after the slain resistance figure.

“Sheikh Yassin is a symbol of Palestine and I take pride in naming my baby after him…It’s indeed a source of pride for all Muslims,” the jubilant father added.

Backlash

Jabr added that he feared no backlash after giving his baby the name.

“I fear no future consequences as a result. All I want is to bring up my son in the footsteps of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin,” he said.

The mother agreed, hoping that her son would have the character traits of Sheikh Yassin.

“I pray that Yassin would be a good omen for our family,” she said.

Following Yassin’s assassination, IOL received a myriad of e-mails, wishing all pregnant Muslim women worldwide to name their baby boys after the veteran leader.

The assassination of Yassin prompted the biggest public funeral in Gaza’s history.

The occupied Palestinian territories observed Wednesday a third day of mourning with shops and schools closed.

All Palestinian factions pledged an all-out war against Israel, saying Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon's head was high on the list.

Israel was gripped by fear as the resistance factions said it would only be a matter of time before translating their threats to avenge the assassination of Yassin into action.