A senior leader of Hamas. Having joined the Gaza Hamas collective leadership in 2004 Said Siam contested Palestine's 2006 legislative council elections polling the highest number of votes cast for any candidate. Hamas won the elections in Gaza. He was appointed interior minister. He helped mastermind the defeat of pro-Fatah units in June 2007. This effectively torpedoed the unity government and split the Abbas-controlled regime on the West Bank from the Hamas regime in Gaza. Said Siam was active during the first intifada (1987-1992). In 1992 Israeli deported him along with many other to southern Lebanon. Later he retuned to Gaza. Said Muhammad Siam was born in Shati refugee camp, Gaza. He worked as a teacher at UN-run schools. Israeli warplanes killed him in attacks in Gaza.