What's left of the Hamas leadership? As Israel chops off one head of the Hydra, a look at which of the terror group's leaders remain alive

The assassination of Hamas' apical governmental leader overnight arsenic he laic sleeping astatine an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps residence successful Tehran has near nan Palestinian panic group vowing to return revenge and could trigger yet much chaos successful nan Middle East. 

Ismail Haniyeh, who had escaped nan horrors of nan warfare successful Gaza while domiciled successful Qatar, travelled to Iran to be nan inauguration of caller Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday. 

But Israel's Defence Forces look to person seized nan chance to deed Haniyeh pinch a daring rocket onslaught successful bluish Tehran successful nan early hours - a move which sparked fears that nan Islamic Republic could activity retribution for an onslaught connected their soil.

The assassination, confirmed by some Hamas and Iranian authorities, marks nan astir high-profile sidesplitting since October 7 and could prove to beryllium a tipping constituent successful nan ongoing conflict betwixt Israel and nan Palestinian group. 

But respective different elder Hamas officials person been killed successful caller months aft Israel vowed to destruct nan group's full elder leadership.

Here, MailOnline examines nan cardinal members of Hamas' governmental and subject elite, explores really Israel has tried - and successful immoderate cases succeeded - to assassinate them, and takes a look astatine who whitethorn now switch nan slain Haniyeh. 

Ismail Haniyeh - president of Hamas' Politburo

Hamas' governmental main Haniyeh was assassinated successful nan early hours of Wednesday morning, nan Palestinian militant group said, erstwhile an 'airborne projectile' believed to beryllium an Israeli surface-to-surface rocket destroyed portion of an IRGC compound successful bluish Tehran. 

As a vocal spokesperson and intermediary for Hamas connected nan world stage, Haniyeh had described nan October 7 attacks arsenic 'an earthquake that struck nan bosom of nan Zionist entity' and vowed to proceed nan conflict to 'liberate... each our land'. 

But for years, nan apical governmental leader of Hamas had lived a life of luxury extracurricular of Gaza, drafting nan ire of galore Palestinians who felt he had go 'out of touch' aft rising to nan apical of Hamas' governmental building successful its early years successful power.

As he decried poorness successful nan beleaguered Gaza Strip, Haniyeh became nan wealthiest of Hamas' leaders, jetting betwixt five-star hotels successful Doha and Istanbul while Hamas siphoned millions successful international aid for subject use.

Like galore of Hamas' leaders, Haniyeh spent respective years languishing successful Israeli jails.

He was first imprisoned successful 1989 aft Israel cracked down connected nan first Palestinian uprising and subsequently recovered himself exiled to Lebanon, but returned to Gaza successful nan mid 1990s wherever he began consolidating his power. 

He was appointed Palestine's Prime Minister successful 2006 by President Mahmoud Abbas aft Hamas roseate to prominence successful nationalist elections, only to beryllium dismissed erstwhile Hamas violently seized power of nan Gaza Strip months later.

But pinch Abbas' Fatah statement forced retired of Gaza, Haniyeh continued presiding complete Gaza and remained 1 of Hamas' apical leaders until his eventual assignment arsenic Chairman of nan Politburo successful 2017, making him nan Palestinian group's governmental chief. 

In 2018, he was designated a violent by nan US State Department.  

In caller years he has go much of a figurehead alternatively than a cardinal governmental decision-maker, according to experts, arsenic he flitted betwixt Doha and Ankara.

'The truth that he lived successful a five-star edifice successful Doha made him very unpopular pinch immoderate of nan Hamas figures connected nan crushed successful Gaza,' Dr Andreas Krieg, associate professor of Security Studies astatine King's College London, told MailOnline.

'He's not personification who nan organisation is relying connected very much. But it is intelligibly a very symbolic strike.'

Haniyeh was reportedly among 3 of Hamas' astir elder leaders worthy much than $3bn - 3 times nan yearly turnover of nan group, according to Israel's embassy successful nan United States.

Yahya Sinwar - Hamas main successful Gaza

Yahya Sinwar, nan leader of Hamas successful Gaza, is said to beryllium nan Palestinian group's existent decision-maker and 1 of nan masterminds down nan ruthless October 7 attacks connected Israel on pinch subject main Mohammed Deif.

While Haniyeh was seen arsenic Hamas' starring typical connected nan world stage, Sinwar maintains power complete nan group's day-to-day operations successful Gaza, wherever he has resided ever since October 7. 

As a result, he has not been seen successful nationalist since nan attacks, confined to tunnels and unafraid compounds underground to debar nan threat of Israeli strikes.

Obsessive, disciplined and dictatorial, nan wiry, grey-haired 61-year-old is 1 of Hamas' astir hardline elements and appears hell-bent connected continuing nan conflict against Israel, moreover arsenic astir 40,000 of his countrymen and women dishonesty dormant pinch tens of thousands much languishing successful famine, illness and homelessness.

Sinwar was calved successful Gaza's Khan Younis exile campy successful 1962, and was first arrested by Israel successful 1982 erstwhile he was a student astatine nan Islamic University successful Gaza.

A founding personnel of Hamas's student movement, Sinwar was progressive during nan first intifada against Israel, which started successful Gaza successful 1987. He besides murdered respective Gazans he suspected of collaborating pinch Israeli forces.

Unlike Haniyeh, who was efficaciously a profession lawmaker and politician, Sinwar spent astir of his profession successful nan shadows, moving his measurement up done nan soul information servants of nan state of Hamas successful betwixt stints successful Israeli prisons.

There he is said to person learned fluent Hebrew to study his enemy, and he yet became 1 of Hamas' apical governmental leaders, being appointed arsenic nan Palestinian group's main successful Gaza successful 2017.

Known for his secrecy, Sinwar is an fantabulous information operator, according to Abu Abdallah, a Hamas personnel who spent years alongside him successful Israeli jails.

'He makes decisions successful nan utmost calm, but is intractable erstwhile it comes to defending nan interests of Hamas,' Abdallah said successful 2017 aft his erstwhile co-detainee was elected Hamas's leader successful Gaza.

After October 7, Israeli subject spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht called Sinwar nan 'face of evil' and declared him a 'dead man walking'.

The Hamas main was added to nan US database of nan astir wanted 'international terrorists' successful 2015, arsenic was Mohammed Deif, different alleged October 7 mastermind.

In a show of defiance 2 years ago, Sinwar ended 1 of his fewer nationalist speeches by inviting Israel to assassinate him, proclaiming: 'I will locomotion backmost location aft this meeting.' He past did so, shaking hands and taking selfies pinch group successful nan streets.

But he is besides profoundly feared for his robust grip successful Gaza, wherever nationalist dissent is suppressed.

He is known arsenic nan 'Butcher of Khan Younis' for his sadistic attack to Palestinians suspected of collaborating pinch Israel.

Mohammed Deif, leader of al-Qassam Brigades

Mohammed Deif is the shadowy leader of nan Hamas group's subject wing, nan al-Qassam Brigades.

Deif was among nan founders of nan brigades successful nan 1990s and has led nan portion for complete 20 years, but has seldom been seen successful nationalist and very fewer photographs of him exist. 

He has agelong topped Israel's astir wanted database and for illustration Sinwar continues to reside successful Gaza. As such, he is seen arsenic a superior target successful nan ongoing bombing of Gaza and has remained underground since nan opening of nan war.

Earlier successful July, Israel announced they had struck a compound successful Gaza wherever Deif was said to beryllium staying.  

The onslaught took spot successful an Israeli-declared humanitarian area successful confederate Gaza, sidesplitting astatine slightest 90 Palestinians and wounding astir 300 more, according to section wellness officials.

There were rumours nan sinister mastermind of nan October 7 attacks had been killed, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said successful mid-July it was 'still not perfectly certain' whether Deif was dead.

Hamas has not confirmed his destiny and nary much accusation has yet travel to light, suggesting he is apt still alive.  

But he is besides believed to beryllium importantly physically compromised, having survived a slew of assassination attempts. 

Saleh al-Arouri, lawman president of nan politburo

Saleh al-Arouri was nan laminitis of Hamas' subject wing, nan al-Qassam Brigades, and occupied nan domiciled of Deputy Chairman of Hamas' Politburo - successful different words, Haniyeh's understudy. 

Benjamin Netanyahu had threatened to termination al-Arouri moreover earlier Hamas launched its bloody October 7 attack. 

He did conscionable that connected January 2, erstwhile an Israeli drone onslaught demolished portion of a building wherever al-Arouri was staying successful Lebanon's capital, Beirut. 

Prior to his death, al-Arouri was believed to person planned and helped execute nan 2014 kidnapping and consequent execution of 3 Israeli teenagers, Gil-ad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Fraenkel, on pinch respective different attacks. 

The governmental leader was antecedently jailed successful Israel connected respective occasions but was released successful March 2010 arsenic portion of efforts to get a broader captive switch successful speech for Gilad Shalit, an IDF corporal kidnapped by Hamas successful 2006. 

Al-Arouri was later progressive successful a woody that saw much than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners freed successful speech for nan corporal. 

In 2015, nan US Department of nan Treasury designated Arouri arsenic a Specially Designated Global Terrorist offering 5 cardinal dollars (£4 million) for accusation astir him.

Asked astir assassination threats against him successful an question and reply pinch Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen successful August, Arouri said: 'It is not unusual for america for nan commanders and cadres of nan activity to beryllium martyred.

'I ne'er expected to scope this age, truthful I americium surviving connected borrowed time.'

In nan aforesaid interview, he threatened that successful lawsuit of a broad war, 'Israel will suffer a conclusion unprecedented successful history'.

Marwan Issa, lawman leader of al-Qassam Brigades

Marwan Issa, nan lawman leader of Hamas' militant group and Mohammed Deif's number two, was killed successful an Israeli strike successful Gaza connected March 11 arsenic nan IDF conducted an battle connected nan Al-Shifa hospital.

His decease was not charismatic confirmed by Hamas but nan US State Department subsequently declared him dead.

His assassination came arsenic Tel-Aviv's troops stormed nan Al-Shifa infirmary analyzable successful Gaza City and besides killed Hamas soul information charismatic Fayq al-Mabhouh, a brigadier wide successful nan force.

A period aft his death, Israel's subject revealed it had obtained handwritten letters from Issa that appeared to show really Iran was backing nan Palestinian group - and that nan erstwhile lawman leader of nan al-Qassam brigades was heavy progressive successful organising nan payments. 

 Israel claims nan money was transferred into Hamas accounts successful Gaza via a analyzable strategy that sees members of nan Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds unit (IRGC-QF) present immense sums of rate to Hamas contacts successful Lebanon. 

The documents item really overmuch of nan money was paid straight to respective apical Hamas officials including Issa and Sinwar, arsenic good arsenic Haniyeh and Deif, each of whom were implicated successful readying nan October 7 attacks connected Israeli civilians.

One document, seemingly written by Issa successful 2020 and addressed to Hamas leader Sinwar, showed a array of payments totalling $154 cardinal from nan Islamic Republic to Hamas coffers.

A 2nd handwritten missive successful November 2021 goes connected to show nan receipt of astatine slightest different $68 cardinal and references to further expected payments.

Khaled Meshaal, erstwhile governmental leader and imaginable Haniyeh successor

Former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal became known astir nan world successful 1997 aft Israeli agents injected him pinch poison successful a botched assassination effort connected a thoroughfare extracurricular his agency successful nan Jordanian superior Amman.

The hit, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, truthful enraged Jordan's then-King Hussein that he said of hanging nan would-be killers and scrapping Jordan's bid pact pinch Israel unless nan antidote was handed over. 

Israel did so, and besides agreed to free Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, only to assassinate him anyhow 7 years later successful Gaza.

Mashaal has governmental and negotiated acquisition but his relations pinch Iran, Syria and Hezbollah person soured complete his support for Arab protests successful 2011. 

When he was successful Lebanon successful 2021, Hezbollah leaders reportedly refused to meet pinch him - but Mashaal has bully relations pinch Turkey and Qatar and is considered a much mean fig who headed nan group until 2017. 

He stepped down successful 2017 and was replaced by Haniyeh, but remains a cardinal portion of Hamas' governmental elite. 

He besides maintains relations pinch Palestine's leader successful nan West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas, who called nan overseas minister on Saturday to connection his condolences for nan sidesplitting of Haniyeh.

Khalil al-Hayya, elder Hamas leader and imaginable Haniyeh successor

Khalil al-Hayya is different precocious ranking Gazan leader who is said to person been adjacent to Haniyeh and shared his pragmatism, knowing nan value of maintaining and building upon cardinal location relationships to guarantee Hamas' continued support.

Like galore different Hamas officials he lives successful exile but is from Gaza, and boasts important world connections arsenic good arsenic bully relations pinch nan Hamas' subject wing. In 2017 he was made a lawman location main of Hamas' politburo. 

A salient diplomat, al-Hayya headed a delegation that went to Syria successful 2022 to rebuild Hamas' relations pinch Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Hayya besides has bully relations pinch Iran, Turkey and Hezbollah, and has been 1 of nan cardinal representatives of nan Palestinian group successful negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage exchange.

In April, al-Hayya made a stunning declaration, claiming that Hamas was consenting to work together to a truce of 5 years aliases much pinch Israel and that it would laic down its weapons and person into a governmental party, if Israel agreed to found an independent Palestinian authorities is established on pre-1967 borders.

The connection was dismissed by Israel - and Haniyeh's assassination this week changed his tune.

'Hamas and nan Palestinian group will not extremity nan guidance march,' he said successful a connection today, adding: 'the guidance vows to respond to this aggression, and nan Zionist entity deserves to salary a dense value for this crime.' 

Mahmoud Zahar, elder governmental leader

Mahmoud Zahar is different Hamas co-founder and leader who has evaded respective attempts connected his life.

He was calved successful Gaza successful 1945 to a Palestinian begetter and Egyptian mother, and went to assemblage successful nan the Palestinian territory earlier besides studying successful Cairo.

He worked arsenic a expert successful Gaza and Khan Younis, and became an advisor to nan Palestinian Health Minister, helping to create nan Palestinian Medical Society.

He was besides 1 of nan superior founders of nan Islamic University successful Gaza successful 1978.

But Zahar was later dismissed arsenic a expert by Israeli authorities complete his utmost views and governmental position, and went connected to service clip successful prison.

He played an integral portion successful nan statement of Hamas successful nan 1980s, and successful 1998 he was detained by Israeli authorities earlier yet being exiled to Lebanon successful 1992.

His exile did not past long, though, and astir a twelvemonth later he was capable to return to Gaza.

Following a bid of termination bombings by nan al-Qassam Brigades, an Israeli F-16 combatant pitchy dropped a explosive complete his location successful nan up-market Rimal neighbourhood successful 2003.

He miraculously escaped pinch only insignificant wounds, and has remained a senior Hamas charismatic and spokesperson for nan panic group ever since.

He has besides courted contention overseas - during nan 2008-2009 Gaza war, he said during a TV broadcast that Israel had 'legitimised nan execution of their ain children by sidesplitting nan children of Palestine' - a remark seen arsenic advocating nan 'murder' of Jewish children worldwide.

His existent whereabouts are unknown.

Essam al-Da'alis, Gaza's 'Prime Minister'

In 2021, Hamas announced nan assignment of Essam al-Da'alis arsenic nan caput of Hamas' Government Administrative Committee successful nan Gaza Strip - a domiciled that efficaciously equates to a Prime Minister.

Little was known astir al-Da'alis earlier his appointment, and specifications of his life stay scarce.

He is believed to person been calved successful 1966 successful nan Jabalia exile camp, a colony that sits successful bluish Gaza which has been each but destroyed since October 7.

Al-Da'alis is simply a personnel of Hamas' politburo, and was antecedently an advisor to nan precocious Haniyeh while moving successful nan group's accusation department. 

Perhaps a bully parameter of al-Da'alis' value is that he has not been targeted by Western sanctions, unlike astir different Hamas leaders.