List of leaders of Hamas
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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 in 31 July 2024 in Tehran, Iran after attending the inauguration ceremony of President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau | |
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| |
Type | Political party office |
Status | Political party leader |
Member of | Hamas Shura Council of Hamas Political Bureau of Hamas |
Residence | Gaza Strip, Palestine[note 1] (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) |
Nominator | Political Bureau of Hamas |
Appointer | Shura Council of Hamas |
Term length | Four years, renewable (Two term limit)[note 4] |
Constituting instrument | 1988 Hamas charter |
Formation | 10 December 1987; 36 years ago (1987-12-10) |
First holder | Ahmed Yassin (as Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council, in 1987) Khaled Mashal (as Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, in 2004) |
Deputy | Khalil al-Hayya (since 6 August 2024) |
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.