| Post: | Chairman |
| Body: | the Hamas Political Bureau |
| Insignia: | Emblem of Hamas Vector Graphic.svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Emblem of Hamas |
| Flag: | Flag of Hamas.svg |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of Hamas |
| Incumbent: | Yahya Sinwar |
| Incumbentsince: | 6 August 2024 |
| Type: | Political party office |
| Status: | Political party leader |
| Member Of: | Hamas Shura Council of Hamas Political Bureau of Hamas |
| Residence: | Gaza Strip, Palestine Amman, Jordan [1] Doha, Qatar [2] Damascus, Syria [3] Doha, Qatar Cairo, Egypt [4] [5] Gaza Strip, Palestine |
| Nominator: | Political Bureau of Hamas |
| Appointer: | Shura Council of Hamas |
| Termlength: | Four years, renewable |
| Termlength Qualified: | (Two term limit) |
| Constituting Instrument: | 1988 Hamas charter |
| First: | Ahmed Yassin Khaled Mashal |
| Deputy: | Khalil al-Hayya |
The chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau (Arabic: رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس|r'eys almktb alsyasy lhrkh hmas), also known as the chairman of the Hamas Shura Council (Arabic: رئيس مجلس شورى لحركة حماس|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.
See main article: History of Hamas. 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.[6]
On 5 August 2024, Abu Omar Hassan was expected to become the next chairman of Hamas Political Bureau.[7] [8] [9] [10] 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".[11] [12] 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.
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:
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.[13] 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.
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.
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.[14]
Most of the leaders that rule Hamas was 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.
This is the list of leaders of Hamas since its inception in December 1987.
| Portrait | Officeholder | Term of office | Deputy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | |||||
| Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council | |||||||
| 1 | Ahmed Yassin Arabic: أحمد ياسين|italic=no | 10 December 1987 | 22 March 2004 | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi Arabic: عبد العزيز الرنتيسي|italic=no (10 December 1987 – 22 March 2004) | |||
| 2 | Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi Arabic: عبد العزيز الرنتيسي|italic=no | 22 March 2004 | 17 April 2004 | None (22 March 2004 – 17 April 2004) | |||
| Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau | |||||||
| 3 | Khaled Mashal Arabic: خالد مشعل|italic=no | 17 April 2004[15] | 6 May 2017 | Mousa Abu Marzook Arabic: موسى أبو مرزوق|italic=no (17 April 2004 – 4 April 2013) Ismail Haniyeh Arabic: إسماعيل هنية|italic=no (4 April 2013 – 6 May 2017)[16] | |||
| 4 | Ismail Haniyeh Arabic: إسماعيل هنية|italic=no | 6 May 2017 | 31 July 2024 | Saleh al-Arouri Arabic: صالح العاروري|italic=no (9 October 2017 – 2 January 2024)[17] None (2 January 2024 – 6 August 2024) | |||
| 5 | Yahya Sinwar Arabic: يحيى السنوار|italic=no | 6 August 2024 | Incumbent | Khalil al-Hayya Arabic: خليل الحية|italic=no (6 August 2024 – present) | |||
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.
This is the incomplete list of chairman of Hamas Shura Council since 1987.
| Chairman of Hamas Shura Council | Took office | Left office | ||
| 1. | 10 December 1987 | 22 March 2004 | ||
| 2. | 22 March 2004 | 17 April 2004 | ||
| 3. | ??? | 17 April 2004 | ??? | |
| 4. | ??? | 16 October 2023 | ||
| 5. | 17 October 2023 | Incumbent |
This is the incomplete list of chairman of Hamas Political Bureau since 1992.
| Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau | Took office | Left office | ||
| 1. | 1992 | 1996 | ||
| 2. | 1996 | 6 May 2017 | ||
| 3. | 6 May 2017 | 31 July 2024 | ||
| 4. | 6 August 2024 | Incumbent |
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.
This is the current list of the main political bureau of Hamas. All these members was elected since May 2017.[18]
This is the current list of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip. All these members was elected since March 2021.[19] [20]
This is the current list of the political bureau of Hamas in the West Bank. All these members was elected since May 2017.[21] [22]
This is the current list of the political bureau of Hamas in the Diaspora / Palestinian Abroad. All these members was elected since May 2017.[23]
This is the current list of the political bureau of Hamas in the Israeli prisoners. All these members was elected since May 2017.[24]