The Hamas temporary committee is a five-person ruling committee that was formed by Hamas following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh on 31 July 2024 to facilitate decision-making given the difficulty of communicating with the newly appointed chairman, Yahya Sinwar, who was based in the Gaza Strip. The committee is based in Doha, Qatar and is tasked with making strategic decisions and governing Hamas during the Israel–Hamas war and "exceptional circumstances". It is made up of five members, including Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, who represent the Palestinian diaspora, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, respectively, as well as chairman of the Shura Council Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and an unnamed official who serves as secretary of the Political Bureau.[1][2]
 | |
| Government overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 31 July 2024 |
| Preceding Government | |
| Type | Provisional government |
| Jurisdiction | Gaza Strip |
| Headquarters | Doha, Qatar |
| Government executives |
|
Following the killing of Yahya Sinwar in Rafah on 16 October, the committee initially discussed the possibility of appointing a single successor, but eventually opted to rule through the committee until the scheduled Hamas leadership elections in March 2025.[3][4][5]
On 24 October, Hamas confirmed that it is discussing a successor to Yahya Sinwar and that it will announce their name once the selection process is complete.[6]
Members
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
Khaled Mashal خالد مشعل (born 1956) |
Former chairman of the Hamas political bureau from 1996 to 2017 and Hamas representative for the Palestinian diaspora | [7] |
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|
Khalil al-Hayya خليل الحية (born 1960) |
Deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau since 2024 and Hamas representative for the Gaza Strip | [7] |
| Zaher Jabarin زاهر جبارين (born 1968) |
Hamas representative and leader in the West Bank since 2024 | [7] | |
| Muhammad Ismail Darwish محمد إسماعيل درويش |
Chairman of the Hamas Shura council since 2023 | [7] | |
| Unnamed official | Secretary of the political bureau whose identity remains classified for security reasons | [7] |
See also
References
- ^ "War in the Middle East: Hamas to be led temporarily by a committee". La croix international. 2024-10-22. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Doha-based committee to lead Hamas amid war, in wake of Sinwar's death — report". The Times of Israel. 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Hamas to be temporarily led by five-member ruling committee". The Arab Weekly. 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Hamas will be temporarily led by a committee, according to sources within the movement". L'Orient Today. 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Who will lead Hamas after killing of Yahya Sinwar?". BBC News. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Hamas set to choose successor for Sinwar amid ongoing Gaza conflict". The New Arab. 24 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Hamas announces new leadership following death of Yahya Sinwar". The Express Tribune. 2024-10-23. Retrieved 2024-10-27.