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Who Remains in Hamas’ Political Bureau after Numerous Killings?

From right to left: Rouhi Mushtaha, Saleh al-Arouri, Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Meshaal, and Khalil al-Hayya (Hamas-affiliated media)
From right to left: Rouhi Mushtaha, Saleh al-Arouri, Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Meshaal, and Khalil al-Hayya (Hamas-affiliated media)
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Who Remains in Hamas’ Political Bureau after Numerous Killings?

From right to left: Rouhi Mushtaha, Saleh al-Arouri, Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Meshaal, and Khalil al-Hayya (Hamas-affiliated media)
From right to left: Rouhi Mushtaha, Saleh al-Arouri, Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Meshaal, and Khalil al-Hayya (Hamas-affiliated media)

Israel has intensified assassinations targeting senior members of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza, posing a major challenge for the group to fill organizational gaps amid ongoing security pressures and relentless Israeli pursuit.

This week, Israel killed two prominent Hamas political leaders in Gaza—Salah al-Bardawil and Ismail Barhoum—bringing the total number of slain bureau members to five since the Israeli military resumed its bombardment of the enclave last Tuesday.

Before Bardawil and Barhoum were killed within 24 hours in an airstrike on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, three other political bureau members—Mohammed al-Jamassi, Issam al-Da’alis, and Yasser Harb—were assassinated in separate attacks carried out simultaneously when Israel resumed its offensive on March 18.
Bardawil was part of Hamas' National Relations Office, while Barhoum oversaw financial affairs. Jamassi served in the legal department and held a general membership position. Da’alis, a Gaza-based member, initially led the economic department before managing governmental affairs. Harb was part of the Gaza office, responsible for organizational administration in the northern Gaza Strip.
High-Profile Assassinations
At the start of Israel’s military campaign following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, Israeli forces struggled to locate senior Hamas leaders. However, after several months, Israel launched a series of targeted assassinations, some occurring in rapid succession.
Among the most prominent figures killed was Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July 2024. His deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in Beirut in January of the same year.
Yahya Sinwar, who succeeded Haniyeh as Hamas’ overall leader after serving as the group’s political chief in Gaza, was killed during clashes with Israeli forces in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighborhood on October 16, 2024. Israeli forces only identified him after his death.
Before the recent wave of killings, Israel had already targeted several high-ranking Hamas figures. Zakaria Abu Maamar and Jawad Abu Shamala were killed on October 10, 2023—just three days after Hamas' attack on Israeli towns near Gaza. Both died in an Israeli airstrike on a building in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Abu Maamar headed the National Relations Office within Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza and was also a member of the group's general bureau. Abu Shamala, a political bureau member in Gaza, handled security affairs.
On October 19, Israel assassinated Jamila Al-Shanti, a member of both the political bureau in Gaza and the general bureau, in an airstrike north of Gaza City. On the same day, Osama al-Muzaini, a Gaza-based political bureau member and head of the group’s Shura Council in the enclave, was killed when an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood.
In March 2024, Israel killed Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas political bureau member, in an airstrike targeting a tunnel in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Issa, who reportedly had cancer, was a key link between Hamas’ political and military wings, serving as deputy commander of the group’s armed branch, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
In August 2024, Israel assassinated Rouhi Mushtaha and Samih al-Sarraj, both members of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza, in an airstrike on a tunnel in the industrial zone south of Gaza City.
Hamas Political Bureau Structure
Hamas traditionally elects members to a general political bureau and separate regional bureaus for Gaza, the West Bank, and abroad. Some members serve in both their regional bureau and the general bureau, depending on the votes they receive.
In previous years, the general political bureau comprised 17 members, but this number increased to 24 during the last two election cycles.
Each region maintains at least 10 representatives, though the number can vary based on field conditions, particularly in the West Bank.
Following the recent assassinations, the remaining general political bureau members from Gaza include Khalil al-Hayya, Nizar Awadallah, Mahmoud al-Zahar, Ghazi Hamad, Fathi Hammad, and Suhail al-Hindi.
Gaza’s regional bureau still includes Ibrahim Sabra and Kamal Abu Aoun.
Among the remaining senior members of the Gaza-based political bureau, Hayya, Awadallah, Hamad, Hammad, and al-Hindi have been living outside Gaza since before the start of the Israeli war.
Other prominent figures in the general political bureau include Khaled Meshaal, Musa Abu Marzouk, Mohammad Nazzal, Izzat al-Rishq, Zaher Jabarin, Mahmoud Mardawi, and other unnamed individuals whose identities Hamas keeps confidential for security reasons.
The political bureau is the highest executive body within Hamas, responsible for making final decisions within the movement. Critical decisions are made by consensus between the political bureau and the Shura Council, a body composed of 50 members.

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Arab World

Eryani: Yemen Dawn Operation Will Restore the State, New Battlefronts Will Be Opened

An armored vehicle belonging to the Yemeni government forces is stationed under a tree near to the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz following fierce battles with the Houthis on October 3, 2026. (AFP)
An armored vehicle belonging to the Yemeni government forces is stationed under a tree near to the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz following fierce battles with the Houthis on October 3, 2026. (AFP)
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Eryani: Yemen Dawn Operation Will Restore the State, New Battlefronts Will Be Opened

An armored vehicle belonging to the Yemeni government forces is stationed under a tree near to the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz following fierce battles with the Houthis on October 3, 2026. (AFP)
An armored vehicle belonging to the Yemeni government forces is stationed under a tree near to the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz following fierce battles with the Houthis on October 3, 2026. (AFP)

Yemen has entered a new phase after the Yemeni leadership announced the launch of Operation Yemen Dawn aimed at restoring the state and ending the coup by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia.

The operation spans the west coast and Baba al-Mandeb Strait, as well as Taiz, Marib, al-Jawf, Midi and aims to liberate Sanaa from the Houthis. The air force has carried out in recent days air strikes against the Houthis in the capital.

As the scale of operations expands across multiple fronts, questions are mounting over the ability of government forces to translate field advancements into broader shifts along the lines of contact. Uncertainty also surrounds how seizing control of Bab al-Mandeb and securing coastal areas will influence the battle, alongside the role of the coalition’s aerial support in sustaining ground operations.

Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani told Asharq Al-Awsat in an exclusive interview that the address delivered by President of the Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi “reflects absolute clarity regarding the political and military objectives of the current phase.”

“We are not talking about a limited battle to achieve temporary field gains, but rather a path aimed at restoring state institutions, authority, and sovereignty over the entire nation, and ending the situation imposed by the Houthi coup,” he remarked.

He noted that the “core message the PLC intended to convey is that the state has entered a new phase, moving from crisis management to executing the decision to restore the state.”

“All resources of the state, the armed forces, security, and military formations, as well as the Yemeni people, must stand behind the national objective,” he urged.

The Yemen Dawn Operation is “a war to restore the state, its institutions, and its sovereignty, rather than to reclaim specific regions or achieve limited gains,” Eryani said.

Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani. (Saba)

Advances

Eryani confirmed that the armed forces, represented by the Giants and Nation’s Shield forces, have successfully recaptured the city of Mokha, the Bab al-Mandeb region, Dhubab, and surrounding strategic sites in a major field development under the new operation.

Current efforts are focused on completing securing, sweeping, and clearing operations on islands near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to consolidate control and prevent the re-emergence of threats to this vital waterway, he added.

“For the government, Bab al-Mandeb is not merely a geographic location or a military asset, but an integral part of Yemen's security and sovereignty. At the same time, it serves as a critical international corridor for trade and navigation, meaning its securing represents a combined Yemeni, regional, and international interest,” he stressed.

Aerial support

Eryani described the aerial support from the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen as an “important factor” in sustaining the advancement of troops on the ground, noting its impact on the ability of the armed forces and military formations to execute simultaneous operations across multiple fronts.

He noted that the coalition announced the participation of around 100 fighter jets at the launch of the Yemen Dawn Operation.

“The primary objectives of the operation consist of reclaiming areas where the Houthi militia has recently expanded, completing the restoration of state territories and institutions, and securing strategic corridors and sites, foremost among them the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the coastal strip,” said the minister.

Multiple fronts

Military operations are taking place across multiple axes, including the west coast, Taiz, Marib, al-Jawf, and Midi, he added.

“Several fronts no longer means a multiplicity of goals; the objective is one: restoring and clearing the remaining state territories and institutions, and extending its sovereignty over the entire national territory,” he stressed.

Government forces walk along a dirt road near the Jabal Han front, west of the city of Taiz, following fierce battles with the Houthis on October 3, 2026. (AFP)

Reclaiming Sanaa

On the operation’s goal to reclaim Sanaa, Eryani said it is the Houthi-held capital and the center of state institutions.

“Its recapture is the ultimate goal of this operation. All Yemenis look forward to the day when the capital returns to the fold of the state and its institutions,” he added.

He added that over the past few days, the air force carried out operations targeting Houthi military sites, coinciding with the armed forces beginning a “strategic offensive” on the capital using modern capabilities.

“The armed forces are moving according to approved military plans. As for the field details and the nature of movements and breakthroughs, these are military matters, and their results will be announced at the appropriate time. Operation Yemen Dawn does not target a city, a sect, or residents, but rather aims to restore the state, its institutions, and end the coup,” he stressed.

“The objective is not merely to achieve a military breakthrough or alter the lines of contact, but rather to restore the state, clear Yemeni territory of the manifestations of the coup, reinstate state institutions, and extend its authority and sovereignty,” Eryani stated.

“We are facing a broad national battle waged by Yemenis using their capabilities, armed forces, and military formations, with the support and backing of the Coalition led by Saudi Arabia,” he continued.

“What has been achieved so far confirms that the operation has entered a new phase, and that Yemenis look forward to completing its goals and successfully restoring their state, capital, and institutions,” he noted.

“Ultimately, success is measured not only by field achievements, but by the subsequent return of the state, security, stability, and normal life to the Yemeni people,” he remarked.

Arab World

Coalition Carries out Military Operation in Yemen’s Hodeidah to Protect Marine Navigation

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition Carries out Military Operation in Yemen’s Hodeidah to Protect Marine Navigation

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Monday that naval forces carried out a military operation in the Hodeidah governorate as part of its goals to protect marine navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

In a post on the X platform, Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said the operation destroyed legitimate terrorist Houthi militia military targets.

The Coalition obstructed plans for attacks and a network that was targeting waterways in the southern Red Sea.

It confirmed the destruction of weapons warehouses, sea mines and booby-trapped vessels, added the spokesman.

Earlier on Monday, the Coalition announced that 100 fighter jets were taking part in Operation Yemen Dawn that was launched by the legitimate Yemeni government to liberate territories held by the Houthis.

Al-Malki said the Coalition was providing “around the clock” aerial support for the Yemeni armed forces on the ground, revealing that the air forces were securing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

He added that 324 “high value” targets have been destroyed since the launch of the operation.

Arab World

At Oct 7 Memorial, Netanyahu Says Will Be No Hamas Rule in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the State Memorial Ceremony for the three year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack - REUTERS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the State Memorial Ceremony for the three year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack - REUTERS
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At Oct 7 Memorial, Netanyahu Says Will Be No Hamas Rule in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the State Memorial Ceremony for the three year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack - REUTERS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the State Memorial Ceremony for the three year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack - REUTERS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed there would be no Hamas rule in Gaza as he attended a memorial event marking three years since the October 7, 2023 attack.

Speaking during a state ceremony at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said "we have achieved enormous accomplishments, but there are still missions ahead of us, and we intend to complete them".

"There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza," he added, vowing to continue targeting anyone who was involved in the attack or who held hostages.

The Hamas-led attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead.

In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed more than 74,200 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Since a ceasefire was declared last October, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in Gaza, according to the ministry.

Plans for Gaza's post-war governance have begun to take shape, but the issue remains largely unresolved in practice.

Since Hamas's October 2023 attack, Israel has fought wars on several fronts, including against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

During his speech on Monday, Netanyahu also vowed to keep striking Hezbollah to "create an opportunity for peace with a country whose people, for the most part, want peace with us".

Netanyahu also hit out at the clerical leadership in Iran, where Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on February 28, triggering the Middle East war.

"We will not allow the ayatollah regime in Tehran to threaten our existence," Netanyahu said, adding the Iranian leadership was "weaker than it has been since its establishment".