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Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau
رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس (Arabic) Ra’īs al-Maktab as-Siasi li-Ḥarakat Ḥamās
Emblem of Hamas
Flag of Hamas
Mashal Al-Hayya Jabarin Darwish Unknown Incumbent Temporary committee leadership Acting since 16 October 2024
Type	Political party office
Status	Political party leader
Member of	Hamas Shura Council of Hamas Political Bureau of Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades
Residence	Gaza Strip, Palestine (1987–2004) Amman, Jordan (1992–1999) Doha, Qatar (1999–2001) Damascus, Syria (2001–2012) Doha, Qatar (2012–2024) Cairo, Egypt (2012–2024) Gaza Strip, Palestine (2024) Doha, Qatar (2024) ??? (2024–present)
Nominator	Political Bureau of Hamas
Appointer	Shura Council of Hamas
Term length	Four years, renewable (Two term limit)
Constituting instrument	1988 Hamas charter
Formation	10 December 1987; 37 years ago (1987-12-10) 17 April 2004; 20 years ago (2004-04-17)
First holder	Ahmed Yassin (as the Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council) Khaled Mashal (as the Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau)
Deputy	Vacant (as the Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, since 16 October 2024)

Hamas biographies
Yassin + HaniyehRantisiMashalSinwar + IssaDeifDeifMabhouhKhan YunisBeit HanounJabalia
Map: Birthplaces and family origins.
Abbreviations p. parents from b. born in d. death
Leaders Party leader Ahmed Yassin (1987–2004) b. Al-Jura, d. 2004 Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi (2004) b. Yibna, d. 2004 Khaled Mashal (2004–2017) b. Silwad Ismail Haniyeh (2017–2024) p. Al-Jura, b. Al-Shati, d. 2024 Yahya Sinwar (2024) p. Al‑Majal, b. Khan Yunis, d. 2024 Leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh (2007–2017) p. Al-Jura, b. Al-Shati, d. 2024 Yahya Sinwar (2017–2024) p. Al‑Majal, b. Khan Yunis, d. 2024 Deputy Leader Mousa Abu Marzook (1997–2013) p. Yibna, b. Rafah Ismail Haniyeh (2013–2017) p. Al-Jura, b. Al-Shati, d. 2024 Saleh al-Arouri (2017–2024) b. 'Arura, d. 2024 Khalil al-Hayya (2024–) b. Gaza City Military wing leader Mohammed Deif p. Al‑Qubayba, b. Khan Yunis d. Possible death in 2024
Politicians and officials Male politicians Basem Naim b. Beit Hanoun Head of International relations Previously: Health Minister Aziz Dweik Ali Baraka Mousa Abu Marzook Female politicians Jamila al-Shanti b. Jabalia, m. Widow of Rantisi, d. 2023 Minister for Women's Affairs Government officials in the Gaza Strip Faiq Al-Mabhouh p. Bayt Tima, b. Jabalia, d. 2024 Police and crisis management Ashraf al-Qidra Health Ministry spokesperson Officials in Lebanon Osama Hamdan Officials in Turkey Zaher Jabarin Alleged weapons dealers Mahmoud al-Mabhouh p. Bayt Tima b. Jabalia d. 2010
Al-Qassam BrigadesDoritos Spokesperson: Abu  Obaida Chief of staff: Mohammed Deif p. Kawkaba (near Kokhav Michael) and Al‑Qubayba, b. Khan Yunis Botched assassination in 2014 d. Unconfirmed in 2024 ICC arrest warrant Marwan Issa p. Al‑Majal b. Bureij refugee camp d. 2024 Yahya Sinwar d. 2024 (political leader KIA see above) Alleged "Nukhba" Ayman Nofal d. 2023 Ali Al Qadi Qassam commanders Ahmed Jabari Mahmoud Rushdi Ishtiwi [ar] Muhammad Abu Shamala [ar] Raed al Atar Engineers Yahya Ayyash Adnan al-Ghoul Martyrdom operatives Jafar Muna
Alphabetical list Imad Abbas Ismail Abu Shanab Imad al-Alami Saleh al-Arouri Salah al-Bardawil Essam al-Da'alis Muhammad Ismail Darwish Wissam Farhat Osama Hamdan Zaher Jabarin Khaled Mashal Rawhi Mushtaha Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi Muhammad Shabana Fatah Sharif Yahya Sinwar Sheikh Abu Salah Taha Ahmed Yassin Hassan Yousef Mahmoud al-Zahar Imad Abbas Emad Akel Raed al Atar Yahya Ayyash Abdullah Barghouti Mohammed Dababish Mohammed Deif Ahmed Ghandour Adnan al-Ghoul Hamza Abu al-Haija Walid Hamdiya Ibrahim Hamed Abu Omar Hassan Marwan Issa Ahmed Jabari Abu Zakaria al-Jamal Fursan Khalifa Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil Mahmoud al-Mabhouh Tito Masoud Mohammed Sinwar Wa'el Nassar Ayman Nofal Ali Al Qadi Rafa Salama Samar Sabih Mohiyedine Sharif Salah Shehade Alaa Shreiteh Omar Abd al-Razaq Samir Abu Eisheh Muhammad Abu Tir Atef Adwan Jamal Akal Yunis Al Astal Nizar Awadallah Husam Badran Ahmad Bahar Ali Baraka Mohammad Barghouti Issa Batran Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh Abdul Fatah Dukhan Aziz Dweik Mazen Faqha Nidal Farahat Kamal Ghanaja Ibrahim Ghosheh Ihab al-Ghussein Samira Abdullah Halaykah Fathi Hamad Ghazi Hamad Ismail Haniyeh Abu Omar Hassan Khalil al-Hayya Ahmad Abu Holi Tawfik Jaber Abd al-Rahman al-Jamal Hadem Rida Jarrar Wasfi Kabha Ahmad Kurd Faiq Al-Mabhouh Ibrahim al-Makadmeh Yousef al-Mansi Mousa Abu Marzook Osama Mazini Basem Naim Umm Nidal Hatem Qafisha Nayef Rajoub Nizar Rayan Reem Riyashi Muhammad Sawalha Said Seyam Nasser al-Shaer Jamila Abdallah Taha al-Shanti Amal Syam Khaled Tafesh Ayman Taha Mohammad Taha Sheikh Abu Salah Taha Raad Thabet Adly Yaish Ahmed Yousef Hassan Yousef Mosab Hassan Yousef Mahmoud al-Zahar Mahmoud Khalil Zakzuk Wael Al Zard Ziad Al-Zaza Sami Abu Zuhri Mohamed Zouari Dissident faction Qawasameh tribe
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Palestinian nationalism Factions and leaders
Yassin + Haniyeh RantisiMashalSinwarDeifDeifMabhouhHabashAbbasHawatmehNakhalah
Map: Birthplaces or family origins Details below: p. parents from, b. born in, d. death.
Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Also: President of the PNA PLO political factions Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Palestinian People's Party (PPP) Palestinian Liberation Front (PLF) Arab Liberation Front (ALF) Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA) Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) Palestinian Arab Front (PAF) As-Sa'iqa Related groups Palestinian National Initiative Leader Mustafa Barghouti
Fatah Founders Yasser Arafat p. Gaza City b. Cairo d. 2004 in Paris Khaled Yashruti Salah Khalaf Khalil al-Wazir Chairman Mahmoud Abbas b. Safed (President of the PA) Secretary-General Jibril Rajoub Vice Chairman Mahmoud Aloul
Fatah splinter groups Al-Mustaqbal (electoral list) Marwan Barghouti Prisoner of Israel see also: Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis Palestinian Mujahideen Movement Militant wing Mujahideen Brigades Former militant wings of Fatah Raed Al Karmi Founder of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Naif Abu-Sharah Local commander in Nablus Fadi Kafisha Former head of the Tanzim in Nablus Sirhan Sirhan Zakaria Zubeidi Local commander in Jenin see also Tali Fahima Samih Madhoun d. killed by EQB Ibrahim al-Nabulsi see also: Lions' Den
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary General George Habash b. Lydda Abu Ali Mustafa Birth name: "Mustafa Ali Zabri" b. 1938 Arraba, Jenin Jenin See also: 17 October 2001 Ahmad Sa'adat Prisoners of Israel since 2006 see also: Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis Deputy Secretary General Jamil Mezher Other key figures Ghassan Kanafani Schisms and splinter groups PFLP-GC
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Split from the PFLP in 1969. Founder and current leader Nayef Hawatmeh b. 1938 As-Salt Militant wing National Resistance Brigades Spokesperson: Abu Khaled
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah b. Khan Yunis Militant wing Saraya Al-Quds
Hamas List of leaders Chairman of Hamas Shura Council (1987‑2004) Ahmed Yassin b. Al-Jura, d. 2004 Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi b. Yibna, d. 2004 Chairman of Hamas Polit Bureau Ismail Haniyeh p. Al-Jura, b. Al-Shati, d. 2024 Khaled Mashal b. Silwad Leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar p. Al‑Majal, b. Khan Yunis, d 2024 Head of International relations Basem Naim b. Beit Hanoun Police and Disaster Management Faiq Al-Mabhouh p. Bayt Tima, d. 2024 Minister for Women's Affairs Jamila al-Shanti b. Jabalia, d. 2023, m. Widow of Rantisi Militant wing Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades Leader Mohammed Deif Birth name: Mohammed Al-Masri p. Kawkaba (near Kokhav Michael) and Al‑Qubayba, b. Khan Yunis d. Failed attempt in 2014 d. Unconfirmed: 2024) Related topics Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Hamas in Lebanon All-Palestine Government in Gaza Ashkelon incorporation into Israel
Historical figures Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Namesake of the Qassam Brigades Musa Alami early Palestinian nationalist b. 1897 in Jerusalem Yaqub al-Ghusayn b. 1899 in Ramla George Antonius b. 1891 Deir al-Qamar al-Husayni family Jamal al-Husayni Musa al-Husayni
Related topics Ideologies Palestinian nationalism Islamism in the Gaza Strip Islamic nationalism § Hamas Present day Palestinian political parties Elections in Palestine Palestinian political violence Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Palestinian Legislative Council State of Palestine Occupied Palestinian Territories List of Palestinians 1967 to 1995 Palestinian fedayeen History of Hamas 1948 to 1967 All-Palestine Government Gaza Protectorate Jordanian annexation of the West Bank Palestinian National Council 1918 to 1948 Mandatory Palestine Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine Army of the Holy War Society for the Defense of Palestine Before 1918 Origin of the Palestinians
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)
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The chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau (Arabic: رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس, romanized: Ra’īs al-Maktab as-Siasi li-Ḥarakat Ḥamās), also known as the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council (Arabic: رئيس مجلس شورى لحركة حماس, romanized: Ra’īs Majlis Shūra li-Ḥarakat Ḥamās) from 1987 until 2004, is the overall and de facto leader of Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military organisation that is governing most of the Gaza Strip since 2007. The position is currently vacant, following the killing of Yahya Sinwar by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on 16 October 2024 in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestine. However, the council that was handpicked by Sinwar in case of his death was formed and will lead Hamas until the next election that will take place in March 2025. The council consists of Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and an unnamed senior member of Hamas.

The chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau is expected to oversee the organization and its various components, while military operations are managed separately by military commanders. Residing in Doha, Qatar, the chairman serves as a figurehead for Hamas during Palestinian elections and becomes the central leader in the resistance against Israeli occupation. Additionally, he plays a crucial role in foreign relations, leading negotiations with Israeli officials regarding peace processes, fostering reconciliation with Fatah, and enhancing ties with other Middle Eastern countries.

History

Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas, became the first chairman of the Hamas Shura Council and de facto leader of Hamas from December 1987 until March 2004. Following his assassination, his deputy, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi took over for only 26 days before he was assassinated by Israel.

The current chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau at that time, Khaled Mashal, took over Hamas leadership and was declared the overall and de facto leader of Hamas since April 2004. Although he held this position since 1996, he was not the overall leader of Hamas since the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council at that time considered as the de facto leader. Hamas elected Mousa Abu Marzook, the previous political bureau's chairman, as the deputy chairman of Hamas Political Bureau in January 1997.

In May 2017, Ismail Haniyeh, the deputy chairman of Hamas Political Bureau, was elected by the Hamas Shura Council as the chairman of Hamas Political Bureau. Hamas also elected Saleh al-Arouri as the deputy chairman of Hamas Political Bureau. However, Al-Arouri was assassinated by Israeli strike in January 2024. Six months later, Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran while attending for the inauguration ceremony of the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.

On 31 July 2024, Khaled Mashal was selected as the acting chairman of Hamas Political Bureau until the new leader was elected. Mashal, the then-chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, was expected to lead Hamas again.

On 5 August 2024, Muhammad Ismail Darwish was expected to become the next chairman of Hamas Political Bureau. Before this, he serving as the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council from October 2023, succeeded Osama Mazini, after his killing on 16 October 2023 by Israeli strike.

However, on 6 August 2024, Yahya Sinwar was officially appointed as the next chairman of Hamas Political Bureau and de facto leader of Hamas, six days after the assassination of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh. The announcement came after the Shura Council, the body that elects Hamas' politburo, voted unanimously to choose Sinwar as the new leader, in what was described by a Hamas official as a "message of defiance to Israel". Khalil al-Hayya was selected as the deputy chairman of Hamas Political Bureau on the same day. Previously, Al-Hayya was the deputy leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

On 16 October 2024, Sinwar was killed after leading Hamas for only two and a half months.

In the aftermath, Khaled Mashal was performing duties again as acting de facto leader of Hamas, for the second time, until the new leader was elected.

Sinwar recommended that, in case of his death, Hamas appoint a council of leaders to govern and manage the transition following his death. The Sinwar's recommended council include:

• Khaled Mashal, second chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau (1996–2017)
• Khalil al-Hayya, current deputy chairman of Hamas Political Bureau (2024) and Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip (2017–present)
• Zaher Jabarin, current chairman of Hamas Political Bureau in the West Bank (2024–present)
• Muhammad Ismail Darwish, current chairman of Hamas Shura Council (2023–present)
• Unknown, known to be as the current secretary of the Hamas Political Bureau

The Hamas official indicated that Khalil al-Hayya has assumed responsibility for most political and foreign affairs in addition to his direct oversight of Gaza-related matters and is effectively the acting de facto leader of Hamas.

There were many potential successor for future Hamas leader, including Khaled Mashal, second chairman of Hamas Political Bureau from 1996 until 2017, Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar and one of the leader of the Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades, Zaher Jabarin, current Hamas leader in the West Bank, and Khalil al-Hayya, current deputy chairman of Hamas Political Bureau since 2024 and longtime deputy of Yahya Sinwar in Gaza Strip.

Structure of organisation and selection

Hamas inherited a tripartite organization of social services, religious instruction, and military operations overseen by a Shura Council. It used to have four different roles:

• a security service (Arabic: Jehaz Aman);
• a military division for acquiring weapons and conducting operations (Arabic: Al-Mujahideen al Filastinun);
• a charitable social welfare division (Arabic: Dawah); and
• a media branch (Arabic: A'alam).

Hamas is led both internally, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and externally, by two groups: Kuwaiti organization (Kuwaidi), led by Khaled Mashal, and a Gaza group led by Mousa Abu Marzook, who was exiled first to Damascus and subsequently to Egypt. Following its leader Mashal's decision to demand that Iraq withdraw from Kuwait and defy Yasser Arafat's decision to support Saddam Hussein in the invasion, the Kuwaiti group of Palestinian exiles started to receive substantial money from the Gulf States. Ismail Haniyeh was selected by the Hamas Shura Council in May 2017 to succeed Mashal as the leader of Hamas.

The organization's operational actions are concealed by a veil of secrecy, making its actual structure unclear. Although this has been called into question, Hamas formally claims that the wings are separate and independent. Its wings, it has been suggested, are both distinct and united for political purposes, both foreign and internal. The wide network of informants and the depth of Israeli intelligence surveillance pose challenges to communication between Hamas' military and political wings. Field commanders were granted more discretionary authority over operations and the political direction of the militant wing was weakened following the assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.

The Hamas Shura Council (Arabic: Majlis al-Shura) is Hamas' main consultative body, with nearly 60 members, most in Gaza, and the main body that governs Hamas. It is modeled after the Quranic idea of shura, or popular assembly, which Hamas officials claim allows for democracy within an Islamic framework. The General Consultative Council, whose members are chosen from local council groupings, replaced the Shura Council as the organization became increasingly intricate and Israeli pressure mounted. The 15 members of the Hamas Political Bureau (Arabic: Al-Maktab al-Siyasi) that decides matters for Hamas is chosen by the council. Representatives are drawn from Israeli prisoners, the West Bank, Gaza, and leaders living abroad. Up until January 2012, the Political Bureau was located in Damascus. However, due to Hamas' backing of the Syrian rebel against Bashar al-Assad during the civil war, the office had to relocate to Qatar.

Powers and duties

The chairman of Hamas Political Bureau was expected to rule over Hamas and all its components. However, there's some exception on its military operations, who have their own command from the military commanders.

The chairman will become the figurehead and lead the party in all Palestinian elections (presidential election and legislative election). He will become the central figure for Hamas resistance against Israeli-occupied territories all over the world, contrasting to their opposite political party, Fatah which kind of moderate one.

The chairman also led the negotiations for Hamas foreign relations such as negotiations with Israeli government officials for peace process, reconciliation process with Fatah and strengthen relations with other countries in the Middle East.

Residence

The residences of the leader changes over time. At inception, he resided in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Due to their security after the assassination of their second chairman, the residence was changed to Amman, Jordan from 1992 until 1997. After that, they moving to Damascus, Syria due to conflict with King Hussein of Jordan. He resided there from 1997 until 2012. After their headquarter (HQ) was closed by Syrian government amid their support for Syrian opposition in the Syrian civil war, the chairman moved to Doha, Qatar from 2012 until 2024.

The previous chairman, Yahya Sinwar, led Hamas from Gaza Strip, Palestine, since he also led the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. Sinwar was the first chairman of Hamas Political Bureau to reside in Gaza Strip, doing so while the Hamas war with Israel was ongoing. The chairman of Hamas Political Bureau usually lived outside the Gaza Strip, due to the security reasons.

Hamas closed its office in Damascus in 2012 after supporting the revolution against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Since then, Assad repeatedly denounced Hamas for betrayal and hypocrisy. Hamas announced in August 2023 that it intended to reopen its office in Syria.

Office holder fate

Most of the leaders that led Hamas have been assassinated while in office. The founder, Ahmed Yassin was killed in March 2004, while his successor, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi was assassinated 26 days later. Ismail Haniyeh, the 4th de facto leader of Hamas, was assassinated in July 2024 shortly after attending the inauguration ceremony of the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. Yahya Sinwar, the latest de facto leader of Hamas, was killed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF), alongside Mahmoud Hamdan, commander of the Tel Sultan Battalion and Hani Zaarab on 16 October 2024. Only Khaled Mashal has not been assassinated or killed, as of today.

List of leaders

This is the list of leaders of Hamas since its inception in December 1987.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Deputy (Time in office)	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council رئيس مجلس شورى لحركة حماس (Arabic)
1		Ahmed Yassin أحمد ياسين (1936–2004)	10 December 1987	22 March 2004 X	16 years, 103 days	Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi عبد العزيز الرنتيسي (10 December 1987 – 22 March 2004)
2		Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi عبد العزيز الرنتيسي (1947–2004)	22 March 2004	17 April 2004 X	26 days	Vacant (22 March 2004 – 17 April 2004)
Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس (Arabic)
3		Khaled Mashal خالد مشعل (born 1956)	17 April 2004	6 May 2017	13 years, 19 days	Mousa Abu Marzook موسى أبو مرزوق‎ (17 April 2004 – 4 April 2013)
						Ismail Haniyeh إسماعيل هنية (4 April 2013 – 6 May 2017)
4		Ismail Haniyeh إسماعيل هنية (c. 1962–2024)	6 May 2017	31 July 2024 X	7 years, 86 days	Saleh al-Arouri صالح العاروري (9 October 2017 – 2 January 2024) X
						Vacant (2 January 2024 – 6 August 2024)
–		Khaled Mashal خالد مشعل (born 1956) Acting	31 July 2024	6 August 2024	6 days
5		Yahya Sinwar يحيى السنوار (1962–2024)	6 August 2024	16 October 2024 †	71 days	Khalil al-Hayya خليل الحية (6 August 2024 – 16 October 2024)
–		Temporary committee leadership قيادة اللجنة المؤقتة Acting	16 October 2024	Incumbent	66 days	Vacant (16 October 2024 – present)

Timeline

This is the timeline of leaders of Hamas since its inception in December 1987.

This is the timeline of deputy leaders of Hamas since its inception in December 1987.

List of chairmen of shura council and political bureau of Hamas

List of chairmen of shura council

This is the incomplete list of chairman of Hamas Shura Council since 1987.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

List of chairmen of political bureau

This is the incomplete list of chairman of Hamas Political Bureau since 1992.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

List of current members of political bureau of Hamas

The Politburo comprises 15 members elected by the Hamas Shura Council every four years. Until his death on 16 October 2024 it was headed by Yahya Sinwar, who replaced Ismail Haniyeh in August 2024 following the assassination of Haniyeh. In addition to the main Politburo, Hamas has regional political bureau elected by four regional shura council, representing the West Bank, Gaza, the diaspora / Palestinian abroad, and Israeli prisoners.

List of current members of main political bureau

This is the current list of the main political bureau of Hamas. All these members was elected since May 2017.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

• Ismail Haniyeh X (Chairman)
• Yahya Sinwar † (Chairman)
• Saleh al-Arouri X (Deputy Chairman)
• Khalil al-Hayya (Deputy Chairman)
• Nizar Awadallah
• Husam Badran
• Salah al-Bardawil
• Fathi Hamad
• Zaher Jabarin
• Mousa Abu Marzook
• Khaled Mashal
• Haroun Abu Muhammad
• Mohammad Nazzal
• Abu Khalil al-Quds
• Izzat al-Risheq
• Abu al-Abed Salah
• Maher Jawad Salah
• Sameh al-Siraj X

List of current members of political bureau in the Gaza Strip

This is the current list of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip. All these members was elected since March 2021.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

• Yahya Sinwar † (Chairman)
• Mohammed Sinwar (Chairman)
• Khalil al-Hayya (Deputy Chairman)
• Mahmoud al-Zahar
• Rawhi Mushtaha X
• Sameh al-Siraj X
• Marwan Issa X
• Jamila al-Shanti X
• Fatima Sharab
• Ghazi Hamad
• Ismail Barhoum
• Suheil al-Hindi
• Zakaria Abu Maamar X
• Jawad Abu Shamala X
• Kamal Abu Awan
• Essam al-Da'alis

List of current members of political bureau in the West Bank

List of the political bureau of Hamas in the West Bank elected since May 2017.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

• Saleh al-Arouri X (Chairman)
• Zaher Jabarin (Deputy Chairman; Chairman)
• Azzam al-Aqra X
• Samir Fandi X
• Khalil al-Kharraz X

List of current members of political bureau in the Diaspora / Palestinian Abroad

This is the current list of the political bureau of Hamas in the Diaspora / Palestinian Abroad. All these members was elected since May 2017.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

• Khaled Mashal (Chairman)

List of current members of political bureau in the Israeli prisoners

This is the current list of the political bureau of Hamas in the Israeli prisoners. All these members was elected since May 2017.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024)

• Salameh Katawi (Chairman)

See also

• Secretary-General of Hezbollah
• Axis of Resistance
• Palestinian Joint Operations Room

Notes

1. Consists of Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and an unnamed senior member of Hamas.
2. The fifth de facto leader and chairman of Hamas Political Bureau, Yahya Sinwar, was the one and only Hamas leader directly involved with the Al-Qassam Brigades and fight with the militants on the front line until he was killed by the IDF in October 2024. He was directly involved in some Israeli–Palestinian conflict, like the First Palestinian Intifada and 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.
3. The first and second chairman of Hamas Shura Council resides in Gaza Strip, Palestine, before both of them were assassinated by an Israeli strike. They led the overall Hamas there, although the headquarter (HQ) of Hamas was moved to Amman, Jordan in 1992. The first and second leaders of Hamas led here until 2004, where the full power of Hamas leadership was transferred from chairman of Hamas Shura Council to chairman of Hamas Political Bureau.
4. The first and second chairman of Hamas Political Bureau resides in Amman, Jordan. They also open their headquarter (HQ) there since the creation of this position in Hamas (Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau).
5. Yahya Sinwar resided in Gaza Strip, previously led the Hamas government there since February 2017 until his killing in October 2024.
6. Temporarily led by a council consisting of Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and an unnamed senior member of Hamas.
7. However, on 8 November 2024, Hamas was asked by Qatar authorities to leave the country by the U.S. request following Hamas's rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal.
8. However, Khaled Mashal period as chairman of Hamas Political Bureau was extended twice.
9. The post will remain vacant until March 2025. Khalil al-Hayya, who served with Yahya Sinwar as the previous deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, was promoted to become a member of the quinquevirate leadership that will lead Hamas until the next election that will take place in March 2025.
10. According to the Saudi channel Al-Hadth, this may be Nizar Awadallah, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, who almost defeated Yahya Sinwar in the 2021 Hamas elections for the leadership in the Gaza Strip.
11. The name of the fifth member was not published by Hamas "for security reasons".
12. Al-Rantisi was named the new chairman of the Hamas Shura Council and covering duties as de-facto leader of Hamas after the assassination of Ahmed Yassin. However, he did not last long in holding that position when he was assassinated within a month.
13. No deputy chairman of the Hamas Shura Council and/or deputy leader of Hamas was appointed at this period of time.
14. Mashal had been chairman of Hamas Political Bureau since 1996, following the imprisonment of his predecessor, Mousa Abu Marzook, in July 1995. The founder of Hamas, Ahmed Yassin, who also served as chairman of Hamas Shura Council, was designated as the leader of Hamas since its founding, to serve until his death. However, after his assassination in March 2004, the deputy chairman of the Shura Council, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, was appointed as the chairman of Hamas Shura Council and also the de-facto leader of Hamas. After a month, he was assassinated. Thereafter, Mashal took over the leadership of Hamas, and the position of chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau has been regarded as the overall and de-facto leader of Hamas since April 2004. The position of chairman of Hamas Shura Council was not abolished and still continues to lead the Hamas Shura Council, but not the whole of Hamas anymore, just like its predecessors (Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi) had designed.
15. The post has remained vacant until Khalil al-Hayya selected as the new deputy chairman on 6 August 2024.
16. Consists of Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and an unnamed senior member of Hamas.
17. The post will remain vacant until March 2025. Khalil al-Hayya, who served with Yahya Sinwar as the previous deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, was promoted to become a member of the quinquevirate leadership that will lead Hamas until the next election that will take place in March 2025.
18. This political office was created on 1992.
19. After the assassination of Haniyeh in July 2024.
20. After the assassination of al-Arouri in January 2024.
21. After the killing of Sinwar in October 2024.
22. After the assassination of al-Arouri in January 2024.

References

1. "Sinwar's fatal mistake: Hamas leader refused Arab offer to escape Gaza- WSJ". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-10-21. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
2. "5 במקום אחד: "אלו חברי מועצת חמאס שיחליפו את סינוואר בהנהגה"". ynet. 22 October 2024.
3. "Hamas to be temporarily led by five-member ruling committee". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
4. "Who will lead Hamas after killing of Yahya Sinwar?". BBC. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
5. Recknagel, Charles. "Iran: Expulsion From Jordan Only Temporary Setback For Hamas". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-08. For years, Amman and Damascus have been safe havens from which the most radical leaders of Hamas could operate beyond the reach of the Israeli and Palestinian Authority security services. But Jordan's recent closure of the Amman office of Hamas, the acronym of the Islamic Resistance Movement, now has changed that equation and set the group looking for new political bases and allies abroad.
6. Cafiero, Giorgio. "Why Syria is So Silent About Hamas". Stimson. Retrieved 2024-08-08. Syria first became a state sponsor of Hamas in the 1990s. American and Israeli pressure had contributed to Jordan's decision to evict the Palestinian group's exiled political leadership from Amman in 1999, resulting in Hamas's external headquarters moving to Damascus in 2001 following a brief stay in Qatar. Damascus provided Hamas the freedom to train its militants on Syrian soil while the Syrian Ministry of Information became the venue for Hamas's exiled political leadership to hold press conferences. This support was one major reason why the U.S. State Department has kept Syria on its "state sponsors of terrorism" list for so many years.
7. Cafiero, Giorgio. "Why Syria is So Silent About Hamas". Stimson. Retrieved 2024-08-08. But the Syrian government's relationship with Hamas drastically deteriorated after Hamas sided with Assad's opponents after the Arab Spring erupted in 2011. By February 2012, the Damascus-Hamas rift resulted in the resistance organization's politburo leaving Syria and relocating to Egypt and Qatar.
8. Miller, Elhanan. "Cairo agrees to host Hamas headquarters, Arabic daily says". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-08-08. Less than one year after closing its headquarters in Damascus, Hamas's "outside" leadership has found a new home in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Hamas leaders are split between Gaza, where they took violent control in 2007, the West Bank, where they seek to gain control, and elsewhere in the region. London-based daily Al-Hayat reported Tuesday that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood administration has agreed to open a Hamas office in eastern Cairo and establish a joint committee with Hamas to discuss issues of security along the Gaza-Egypt border.
9. "Hamas opens office in Cairo". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 2024-08-08. The Egyptian government agreed to allow the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, to open an office in Cairo and appoint a permanent representative there. Egyptian sources stated that the Hamas delegation currently visiting Cairo agreed with the Egyptian intelligence agency to appoint a representative for the movement in the Egyptian capital, who will act as a coordinator to discuss and deal with various issues. The agreement between the two sides stipulates that there will be permanent representation for the movement in Cairo in order to follow up on the movement's affairs, as well as the affairs of Gazans in Egypt.
10. "Qatar agrees to kick Hamas out of Doha following US request, sources say". CNN. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
11. "After Hamas rejection of hostage deal, US asked Qatar to expel the group". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
12. "Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to step down from his position". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2024. Abu Marzouk is expected to be in contention to succeed Meshaal, although Ismail Haniyeh, the de facto prime minister of Gaza, could also stand for the political leadership. The post is meant to be limited to two terms, although Meshaal's period at the helm was extended twice.
13. "Sinwar's fatal mistake: Hamas leader refused Arab offer to escape Gaza- WSJ". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-10-21. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
14. "5 במקום אחד: "אלו חברי מועצת חמאס שיחליפו את סינוואר בהנהגה"". ynet. 22 October 2024.
15. "Hamas to be temporarily led by five-member ruling committee". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
16. "Who will lead Hamas after killing of Yahya Sinwar?". BBC. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
17. "Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan offered his condolences to Khaled Meshaal, Acting Chief of the Hamas Political Bureau, 2 August 2024, Doha". Republic of Turkiye, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
18. "Turkey calls Mashal Hamas' actring political chief after Haniyeh's assassination". United News of India. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
19. Al-Mughrabi, Nidal. "Khaled Meshaal, who survived Israeli assassination attempt, tipped to be new Hamas leader". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
20. Halabi, Einav. "Hamas said to pick head of religious council to replace Haniyeh". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
21. "Hamas allegedly names Muhammad Ismail Darwish as Haniyeh's successor". ED News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
22. Halabi, Einav. "Report: Head of Hamas Shura Council tapped to replace Haniyeh". Israel National News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
23. "Hamas could tap 'shadowy' figure to succeed Haniyeh, report says". JNS News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
24. "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new overall leader". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
25. "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new leader after Ismail Haniyeh's killing". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
26. "Khaled Mashal has taken over as the terrorist group's de facto leader". Israele.net (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-10-17. Translated to English: Following the killing of Yahya Sinwar, senior Hamas official Khaled Mashal (who is based in Qatar) has taken over as the terrorist group's de facto leader, who is also responsible for the hostage negotiations, Lebanese network LBCI reported Thursday evening, saying that Hamas has informed Turkey, Qatar and Egypt.
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28. "Khaled Mashal becomes new Hamas leader after Sinwar's death". Apa. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
29. "Khaled Mashal reportedly becomes Hamas leader after Sinwar's death". News.az. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
30. "Sinwar's fatal mistake: Hamas leader refused Arab offer to escape Gaza- WSJ". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-10-21. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
31. "5 במקום אחד: "אלו חברי מועצת חמאס שיחליפו את סינוואר בהנהגה"". ynet. 22 October 2024.
32. "5 במקום אחד: "אלו חברי מועצת חמאס שיחליפו את סינוואר בהנהגה"". ynet. 22 October 2024.
33. "5 במקום אחד: "אלו חברי מועצת חמאס שיחליפו את סינוואר בהנהגה"". ynet. 22 October 2024.
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35. "Who could take over as the next Hamas leader?". Telegraph.
36. "Israel killed Hamas's leader. What happens next?". Vox.
37. "Mohammed Sinwar: The ruthless brother who 'came back from the dead' – Hamas' heir apparent?". YNetNews.
38. "The war in Gaza might complicate Haniyeh's replacement. Here are the possible contenders". AP. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
39. "Hamas says it could 'reopen office in Damascus', despite recent Assad criticism". New Arab. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
40. Jha, Mausam. "How Benjamin Netanyahu boosted rise of Khaled Meshaal, likely new chief of Hamas". Mint. Retrieved 2024-08-03. Khaled Meshaal led Hamas from exile in Damascus from 2004 until early 2012, when he left due to President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on Sunnis during the uprising. He now splits his time between Doha and Cairo.
41. "Hamas appoints Haniya as deputy head: party official". AFP. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
42. Sarah, El Debb. "The war in Gaza might complicate Haniyeh's replacement. Here are the possible contenders". Associate Press. Retrieved 2024-08-09. Haniyeh headed the group's political bureau until his death. His deputy was Saleh Arouri, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut in January and would have been the automatic replacement. Arouri's post has remained empty since his death.
43. "Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan offered his condolences to Khaled Meshaal, Acting Chief of the Hamas Political Bureau, 2 August 2024, Doha". Republic of Turkiye, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
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51. Menachem, Yoni Ben. "The Globalization of Hamas Terror". Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs.
52. Alshawabkeh, Lina. "Hamas: Who are the group's most prominent leaders?". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-08-08. Meshaal, who lives in Qatar, visited the Gaza Strip for the first time in 2012. He was received by Palestinian officials and crowds of Palestinians came out to welcome him. Hamas elected Ismail Haniyeh to succeed Meshaal as head of its political bureau in 2017, and Meshaal became head of the group's political bureau abroad.
53. Robinson, Kali. "Who Governs the Palestinians?". Council of Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2024-08-07.

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v t e Hamas
History	Hamas Charter (revised) Fatah–Hamas conflict Takeover of the Gaza Strip 25th anniversary of Hamas (2012)
Political wing	List of leaders of Hamas Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Hamas temporary committee Islamic Salvation Party Khaled Mashal Ismail Haniyeh Yahya Sinwar Basem Naim Ali Baraka Mousa Abu Marzook Zaher Jabarin Essam al-Da'alis Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi hospital Women: Jamila Abdallah Taha al-Shanti Umm Nidal Elections 2005 presidential 2006 legislative
Law and order	Interior Minister of the Gaza Strip Ihab al-Ghussein Police Faiq Mabhouh Palestinian Executive Force [ar] Said Seyam Palestinian law Executions
Military wing	Palestinian Joint Operations Room Al-Qassam Brigades Nukbha Ayman Nofal al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards unit People Leader: Mohammed Deif Spokesperson: Abu Obaida Marwan Issa Yahya Ayyash Adnan al-Ghoul Salah Shehade Mazen Faqha Wa'el Nassar Ahmed Jabari Imad Abbas Emad Akel Nidal Farahat Yunis Al Astal Ahmed Ghandour Women Reem Riyashi Fatma Omar An-Najar Operations Murder of Yaron and Efrat Ungar Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing 2001 Immanuel bus attack 2004 Ashdod Port bombings IDF outpost bombing 2006 Gaza cross-border raid Gaza War (2008–2009) August 2010 West Bank shooting attack 2012 Gaza War 2014 Gaza War 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis 2023 attack on Israel Israel–Hamas war Weapons Al-Bana Batar Qassam rocket Yasin (RPG)
Social services	Islamic University of Gaza Mujama al-Islamiya Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund
Media	Al-Aqsa TV Tomorrow's Pioneers Al-Aqsa Voice Radio Al-Quds TV Shehab News Agency Al-Watan (defunct)
Foreign relations	Support from (Iran Israel Qatar Turkey) Russia Lebanon
Related articles	Criticism of Hamas Hamas war crimes Hamas most wanted playing cards
Category:Hamas

• Government ministers of the Gaza Strip
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• Lists of Palestinian people