List of leaders of Hamas
- رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس (Arabic)
r'eys almktb alsyasy lhrkh hmas
Emblem of Hamas
Flag of Hamas
Incumbent
Yahya Sinwar
since 6 August 2024Yahya Sinwar
Shura Council of Hamas
Political Bureau of Hamas
(1987–2004)
Amman, Jordan[note 2]
(1992–1999)[1]
Doha, Qatar
(1999–2001)[2]
Damascus, Syria
(2001–2012)[3]
Doha, Qatar
(2012–2024)
Cairo, Egypt
(2012–2024)[4][5]
Gaza Strip, Palestine[note 3]
(2024–present)
(Two term limit)[note 4]
(as Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council, in 1987)
Khaled Mashal
(as Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, in 2004)
(since 6 August 2024)
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The chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau (Arabic: رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس, romanized: r'eys almktb alsyasy lhrkh hmas), also known as the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council (Arabic: رئيس مجلس شورى لحركة حماس, romanized: r'eys mjls shwra hrkh hmas) 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 current chairman is Yahya Sinwar, appointed since August 2024, after his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated on 31 July 2024 in Tehran, Iran, after attending the inauguration ceremony of President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.
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, become 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 15 days before he was assassinated by Israel.
The current chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau at that time, Khalid Mashal, took over Hamas leadership and declare as the overall and de facto leader of Hamas since April 2004. Although he hold 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 month later, Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran while attending for the inauguration ceremony of the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.
On 1 August 2024, Khaled Mashal, the then-chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, was expected to lead Hamas again.[7]
On 5 August 2024, Abu Omar Hassan was expected to become the next chairman of Hamas Political Bureau.[8][9][10][11] 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 officially appointed as the next chairman of Hamas Political Bureau and de facto leader of Hamas after six days of assassination of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh. The announcement came after the Shura Council, the body that elects Hamas's 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".[12][13] 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 government in the 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 Mohammed Abu Marzook, who was exiled first to Damascus 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's 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 Shura Council (Arabic: Majlis al-Shura) is Hamas' main consultative body, with nearly 60 members, most in Gaza.[14] 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 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's 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 component. 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. Since its 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 resides 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 moving to Doha, Qatar from 2012 until 2024. The current appointed chairman, Yahya Sinwar, will lead Hamas from Gaza Strip, Palestine, since he also lead the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. Sinwar become the first chairman of Hamas Political Bureau to reside in Gaza Strip, even though the Hamas war with Israel still 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.[15]
Office holder fate
Most of the leaders that ruled Hamas have been assassinated while in office. The founder, Ahmed Yassin was assassinated in March 2004, while his successor, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi was assassinated 15 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. Only Khaled Mashal and current chairman, Yahya Sinwar, have not been assassinated or killed, as of today.
Leaders
List of leaders
This is the list of leaders of Hamas since its inception in December 1987.
| No. | Portrait | Officeholder English · Arabic (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Deputy English · Arabic (Term of office) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | |||||
 Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council رئيس مجلس شورى لحركة حماس (Arabic) | |||||||
| 1 |  | Ahmed Yassin X أحمد ياسين (1936–2004) | 10 December 1987 | 22 March 2004 | 16 years, 103 days | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi عبد العزيز الرنتيسي (10 December 1987 – 22 March 2004) |  |
| 2 |  | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi X عبد العزيز الرنتيسي (1947–2004) [note 5] | 22 March 2004 | 17 April 2004 | 15 days | None (22 March 2004 – 17 April 2004) [note 6] | |
| Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس (Arabic) | |||||||
| 3 |  | Khaled Mashal خالد مشعل (born 1956) [note 7] | 17 April 2004[16] | 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)[17] |  | ||||||
| 4 |  | Ismail Haniyeh X إسماعيل هنية (1962/63–2024) | 6 May 2017 | 31 July 2024 | 7 years, 86 days | Saleh al-Arouri X صالح العاروري (9 October 2017 – 2 January 2024)[18] |  |
| None (2 January 2024 – 6 August 2024) [note 8] | |||||||
| 5 |  | Yahya Sinwar يحيى السنوار (born 1962) | 6 August 2024 | Incumbent | 36 days | Khalil al-Hayya خليل الحية (6 August 2024 – present) | |
Timeline of leaders
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) |
| # | Chairman of Hamas Shura Council | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ahmed Yassin | 10 December 1987 | 22 March 2004 |
| 2. | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi | 22 March 2004 | 17 April 2004 |
| 3. | ??? | 17 April 2004 | ??? |
| 4. | Osama Mazini | ??? | 16 October 2023 |
| 5. | Abu Omar Hassan | 17 October 2023 | Incumbent |
List of chairmen of political bureau
This is the incomplete list of chairman of Hamas Political Bureau since 1992.[note 9]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024) |
| # | Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mousa Abu Marzook | 1992 | 1996 |
| 2. | Khaled Mashal | 1996 | 6 May 2017 |
| 3. | Ismail Haniyeh | 6 May 2017 | 31 July 2024 |
| 4. | Yahya Sinwar | 6 August 2024 | Incumbent |
List of current members of political bureau of Hamas
The Politburo comprises 15 members elected by the Hamas Shura Council every four years. It is currently 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.[19]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024) |
- Ismail Haniyeh X (Chairman)
- Saleh al-Arouri X (Deputy Chairman)
- Nizar Awadallah
- Husam Badran
- Salah al-Bardawil
- Fathi Hamad
- Khalil al-Hayya
- Zaher Jabareen
- Mousa Abu Marzook
- Khaled Mashal
- Haroun Abu Muhammad
- Mohammad Nazzal
- Abu Khalil al-Quds
- Izzat al-Risheq
- Abu al-Abed Salah
- Maher Jawad Salah
- Yahya Sinwar
- 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.[20][21]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024) |
- Yahya 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
This is the current list of the political bureau of Hamas in the West Bank. All these members was elected since May 2017.[22][23]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024) |
- Saleh al-Arouri X (Chairman)
- Zaher Jabarin (Deputy 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.[24]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024) |
- Khaled Meshal (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.[25]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2024) |
- Salameh Katawi (Chairman)
See also
Notes
- ^ The first and second chairman of Hamas Shura Council resides in Gaza Strip, Palestine, before both of them were assassinated by Israeli strike. They lead the overall Hamas there, although the headquarter (HQ) of Hamas was moved to Amman, Jordan on 1992. The first and second leaders of Hamas lead here until 2004, where the full power of Hamas leadership was transferred from chairman of Hamas Shura Council to chairman of Hamas Political Bureau.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Yahya Sinwar currently residing in Gaza Strip, previously leading the Hamas government there since February 2017.
- ^ However, Khaled Mashal period as chairman of Hamas Political Bureau was extended twice.[6]
- ^ 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 after 15 days.
- ^ No deputy chairman of the Hamas Shura Council and/or deputy leader of Hamas was appointed at this period of time.
- ^ Mashal was 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 is also serving as chairman of Hamas Shura Council, was designed to be the de-facto leader of Hamas since its inception. However, after the assassination of Ahmed Yassin in March 2004, his deputy, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, was appointed as the chairman of Hamas Shura Council and covering duties as de-facto leader of Hamas. After 15 days, he was assassinated. Until that moment, Mashal took over the leadership of Hamas and has been regarded as the overall and de-facto leader of Hamas since April 2004. The chairman of Hamas Shura Council was not abolished and still continue to lead the Hamas Shura Council, but not the whole Hamas anymore, just like its predecessor (Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi).
- ^ The post has remained empty until Khalil al-Hayya selected as the new deputy chairman in 6 August 2024.
- ^ This political office was created on 1992.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to step down from his position". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
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.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal. "Khaled Meshaal, who survived Israeli assassination attempt, tipped to be new Hamas leader". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
- ^ Halabi, Einav. "Hamas said to pick head of religious council to replace Haniyeh". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Hamas allegedly names Muhammad Ismail Darwish as Haniyeh's successor". ED News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ Halabi, Einav. "Report: Head of Hamas Shura Council tapped to replace Haniyeh". Israel National News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Hamas could tap 'shadowy' figure to succeed Haniyeh, report says". JNS News. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new overall leader". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new leader after Ismail Haniyeh's killing". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "The war in Gaza might complicate Haniyeh's replacement. Here are the possible contenders". AP. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Hamas says it could 'reopen office in Damascus', despite recent Assad criticism". New Arab. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Hamas appoints Haniya as deputy head: party official". AFP. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Mapping Palestinian Politics - Hamas - Politburo". ECFR. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Mapping Palestinian Politics - Hamas - Gaza Leadership". ECFR. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "The composition of the elected political bureau of Hamas in the Gaza Strip (2021)" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ Robinson, Kali. "Who Governs the Palestinians?". Council of Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ Menachem, Yoni Ben. "The Globalization of Hamas Terror". Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Robinson, Kali. "Who Governs the Palestinians?". Council of Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
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