Many of Hamas's apical leaders person been killed since nan group's onslaught connected Israel connected 7 October 2023, dealing it a terrible blow.
Here's what has happened to Hamas's astir salient figures:
Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar was nan designer of nan 7 October attacks, successful which astir 1,200 group were killed and 251 others taken backmost to Gaza arsenic hostages. He was besides 1 of Israel's apical targets from that time on.
Sinwar had been nan leader of Hamas successful Gaza, but became nan wide caput of Hamas pursuing nan assassination of Ismail Haniyeh successful Tehran successful July this year.
Sinwar, who was calved successful nan Gaza Strip successful 1962, joined nan activity astatine an early age.
He founded Hamas's information service, known arsenic Majd, which manages soul information matters, investigates suspected Israeli agents, and tracks down Israeli intelligence and information services officers.
Israel had arrested Sinwar 3 times. After his 3rd apprehension successful 1988 he was sentenced to 4 life position successful prison.
However, he was among 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners released by Israel successful speech for an Israeli worker held captive for complete 5 years by Hamas.
Sinwar returned to his position arsenic a salient leader successful Hamas and was appointed caput of nan group's governmental bureau successful nan Gaza Strip successful 2017.
In 2015, nan US included Sinwar connected its blacklist of "international terrorists".
Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces successful Rafah connected 16 October 2024.
Ismail Haniyeh
Ismail Haniyeh was Hamas's wide leader until nan group confirmed his decease successful Iran connected 31 July 2024.
A salient personnel of nan activity successful nan precocious 1980s, Israel imprisoned Haniyeh for 3 years successful 1989 arsenic it cracked down connected nan first Palestinian uprising.
He was past exiled successful 1992 to a no-man's-land betwixt Israel and Lebanon, on pinch a number of Hamas leaders.
After a twelvemonth successful exile, he returned to Gaza. In 1997 he was appointed caput of nan agency of Hamas's belief leader, strengthening his position.
Haniyeh was appointed Palestinian premier curate successful 2006 by President Mahmoud Abbas aft Hamas won nan astir seats successful nationalist elections, but was dismissed a twelvemonth later aft nan group ousted Mr Abbas' Fatah statement from nan Gaza Strip successful a week of deadly violence.
Haniyeh rejected his sacking arsenic "unconstitutional", stressing that his authorities "would not wantonness its nationalist responsibilities towards nan Palestinian people", and continued to norm successful Gaza.
He was elected caput of Hamas's governmental bureau successful 2017.
In 2018, nan US Department of State designated Haniyeh a terrorist. He had lived successful Qatar for nan past respective years.
Mohammed Deif
Mohammed Deif was nan caput of Hamas's subject helping - al-Qassam Brigades - and is thought to person been a cardinal planner of nan 7 October attack.
He was a shadowy fig known to Palestinians arsenic The Mastermind, and to Israelis arsenic The Cat pinch Nine Lives.
Israeli authorities imprisoned him successful 1989, aft which he formed nan al-Qassam Brigades pinch nan purpose of capturing Israeli soldiers.
After his release, he helped technologist nan building of tunnels that person allowed Hamas fighters to get wrong Israel from Gaza,
Deif was 1 of Israel's most-wanted men, accused of readying and supervising autobus bombings which killed tens of Israelis successful 1996, and of engagement successful nan seizure and sidesplitting of 3 Israeli soldiers successful nan mid-1990s.
Israel imprisoned him successful 2000, but he escaped astatine nan opening of nan 2nd Palestinian uprising, aliases intifada.
In 1 assassination attempt, successful 2002, Deif survived but mislaid 1 of his eyes. Israel said he besides mislaid a ft and a hand, and that he had trouble speaking.
Israeli information forces again grounded to assassinate Deif during a 2014 battle connected nan Gaza Strip, but killed his woman and 2 of his children.
Israel says it yet killed Deif successful an aerial onslaught connected a compound successful Khan Younis successful July 2024.
Marwan Issa
Marwan Issa was nan lawman commander-in-chief of al-Qassam Brigades and believed to person been a cardinal planner of nan 7 October attack.
He was connected Israel's most-wanted database for years, and was injured erstwhile it attempted to assassinate him successful 2006.
Israeli forces detained Issa during nan first intifada, aliases Palestinian uprising (1987-93), for 5 years because of his activity pinch Hamas.
The Palestinian Authority arrested him successful 1997, but he was freed aft nan 2nd intifada began successful 2000.
Israeli warplanes destroyed Issa's location doubly during invasions of Gaza successful 2014 and 2021, sidesplitting his brother.
Issa was fixed nan nickname nan Shadow Man, Israeli media reported, because of his expertise to evade being found, and it was not known what he looked for illustration until 2011, erstwhile he appeared successful a group photograph taken during a reception for exchanged prisoners.
Israel says it killed Issa successful an aerial onslaught connected a passageway nether a exile campy successful nan cardinal Gaza Strip successful March 2024.
Khaled Meshaal
Khaled Meshaal, who was calved successful nan West Bank successful 1956, is considered 1 of nan founders of Hamas.
Under nonstop instructions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Mossad spy agency attempted to assassinate Meshaal successful 1997 while he was surviving successful Jordan.
Mossad agents entered Jordan pinch forged Canadian passports and Meshaal was injected pinch a toxic constituent while stepping on a street.
Jordanian authorities discovered nan assassination effort and arrested 2 Mossad members.
The precocious King Hussein of Jordan asked Israel's PM for nan antidote for nan constituent Meshaal was injected with. Facing unit from past US President Bill Clinton, Mr Netanyahu provided nan antidote aft initially rejecting nan request.
Meshaal, who lives successful Qatar, visited nan Gaza Strip for nan first clip successful 2012. He was received by Palestinian officials and crowds of Palestinians came retired to invited him.
Hamas elected Ismail Haniyeh to win Meshaal arsenic caput of its governmental bureau successful 2017, and Meshaal became caput of nan group's governmental bureau abroad.
Mahmoud Zahar
Mahmoud Zahar was calved successful Gaza successful 1945 to a Palestinian begetter and an Egyptian mother. He is considered 1 of Hamas' astir salient leaders, and a personnel of nan movement's governmental leadership.
He went to schoolhouse successful Gaza and assemblage successful Cairo, past worked arsenic a expert successful Gaza and Khan Younis until Israeli authorities dismissed him complete his governmental position.
Mahmoud Zahar was held successful Israeli prisons successful 1988, months aft nan founding of Hamas. He was among those deported by Israel to confederate Lebanon successful 1992, wherever he spent a year.
With nan Hamas activity winning Palestinian wide elections successful 2006, Zahar joined nan Ministry of Foreign Affairs successful Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's recently formed authorities earlier its eventual dismissal.
Israel attempted to assassinate Zahar successful 2003, erstwhile a level dropped a explosive connected his location successful Gaza City. The onslaught near him pinch insignificant injuries, but killed his eldest son, Khaled.
His 2nd son, Hossam, who was a personnel of nan al-Qassam Brigades, was killed successful an Israeli aerial onslaught successful Gaza successful 2008.