Isra al-Modallal (

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

: إسراء المدلل) was the first female spokesperson in English for the

Hamas Hamas (, ; , ; an acronym of , "Islamic Resistance Movement") is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant, and nationalist organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam ...

government in Gaza between 2013–2014. She was born in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

and raised in Gaza. She attended high school in Bradford,

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, and graduated from Islamic University of Gaza with a degree in media studies. She worked as a

broadcast journalist Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are broadcast by electronic methods instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. It works on radio (via air, cable, and Internet), television (via air, cable, ...

before accepting the spokesperson role. Her appointment was part of a Hamas effort to change its public image.

Early life and career

Isra al-Modallal was born in Egypt to Palestinian refugees and spent her youth in Gaza. She attended Grange Technology College in Bradford,

while her father went to university. She developed a

Yorkshire dialect The Yorkshire dialect (also known as Broad Yorkshire, Tyke, Yorkie or Yorkshire English) is a dialect of English, or continuum of dialects, spoken in the Yorkshire region of Northern England. The dialect has roots in Old English and is influen ...

while in England. She graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza with a degree in media studies and later worked as a

. She has credited camera experience at a local station and English-language satellite news channel as formative career experiences. Al-Modallal began her new role as the Hamas government's international spokesperson in November 2013. She was the first female to hold the position. Her appointment came as part of a Hamas effort change its public image under media head Ihab al-Ghussein, who opened a new government website, increased government social media use, and recruited younger staff. As a female figure in power, her role was expected to more closely connect Palestinian and Hamas concerns with the West and to empower Palestinian women. Al-Modallal has referred to herself as a Palestinian and not as a Hamas devotee. She said she would focus on human rights and humanitarian causes, would not speak with Israeli media, and would launch a social media campaign. She is divorced, and has one daughter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Modallal, Isra Living people Palestinian politicians Palestinian Muslims Year of birth missing (living people) Islamic University of Gaza alumni