List of leaders of Hamas

Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau
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
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); Unknown; (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 ; 17 April 2004
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)

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 has been 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. The council, handpicked by Sinwar in case of his death, leads Hamas until the next election, scheduled to 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.