Nizar Awadallah

Nizar Awadallah
نزار عوض الله
Awadallah in 2025
Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council[1]
In office
???–???
Preceded byUnknown (maybe Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi)
Succeeded byUnknown (maybe Osama Mazini)
Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau
Acting
In office
16 October 2024 – 20 July 2026
Preceded byYahya Sinwar
Succeeded byKhalil al-Hayya
Member of Hamas Political Bureau[2]
Incumbent
Assumed office
2009
ChairmanKhaled Mashal
(2009–2017)
Ismail Haniyeh
(2017–2024)
Yahya Sinwar
(2024)
Hamas temporary committee (acting)
(2024–2026)
Khalil al-Hayya
(2026–present)
3rd Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip[3]
In office
17 April 2004 – 11 June 2007
Preceded byAbdel Aziz al-Rantisi
Succeeded byIsmail Haniyeh
Personal details
BornNizar Mohammed Awadallah
(1957-12-11) December 11, 1957
Egypt Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip
Party Hamas
EducationAin Shams University (BEng)
OccupationPolitician

Nizar Mohammed Awadallah (Arabic: نزار محمد عوض الله, born 11 December 1957) is a Palestinian militant and politician who is serving as the member of Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip since 2009.[4][5][6] He also served as one of the acting quinquevirate leadership of Hamas, alongside Khaled Mashal, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and Khalil al-Hayya, after Yahya Sinwar was killed by the IDF in October 2024.

Early life and education

Nizar Awadallah was born in the Gaza Strip in 1957.[7][8] His family originates from the Palestinian town of Hamama,[9] which became Northern Ashkelon after 1948. Awadallah studied civil engineering at Ain Shams University in Cairo.[10]

Early career

He served as the secretary of an organization called Mujama al-Islamiya, also known as the Islamic Centre, and is considered close to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He was arrested and imprisoned for six years (1989–1995) in an Israeli prison due to his involvement in an armed group called Mujahadin al-Filastayeen, translated as ‘Palestinian Holy Warriors’.[11] He also served as the head of Mujama al-Islamiya.

Political career

He was assigned to lead the Hamas movement after the movement's victory in the 2006 legislative elections. He led the negotiations on behalf of Hamas in the Gilad Shalit deal. He was elected a member of the Hamas Political Bureau in 2009. His house was bombed by Israeli Air Force planes during the 2008–2009 Gaza war and the 2014 Gaza War.[12]

In the internal elections for the leadership of the Hamas government in Gaza, held on March 9, 2021, he defeated Yahya Sinwar in the first round by a margin of 7 votes. Sinwar defeated him in the fourth round.[13][14]

On December 13, 2023, the US Department of the Treasury designated Nizar Awadallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist linked to Hamas.[15]

In December 2023, it was reported that Awadallah was killed in an airstrike as part of the Gaza war.[16][17] According to another report, he was seriously injured. Awadallah's death was not confirmed by Hamas nor the IDF.

According to Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Awadallah has been a key figure in negotiations during the Gaza war. He currently resides in Doha, Qatar.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Hamas leader Sinwar ousted in secret vote - report". The Jerusalem Post. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2026. Hamas has elected a new leader in the Gaza Strip to replace Yahya Sinwar, according to people familiar with the matter. His name is Nizar Awadallah, the sources said. Awadallah, 63, was one of four candidates who challenged Sinwar, the Palestinian daily Al-Quds reported. The other three candidates were identified as Mahmoud Zahar, Fathi Hammad and Ziyad al-Thatha. Awadallah, who previously served as head of Hamas's Shura Council, a decision-making consultative body that elects the group's politburo, was elected in secret elections over the past few weeks for the group's leaders in the Gaza Strip and abroad.
  2. ↑ "Israeli occupation's threats against Hamas officials reflect political impasse". Hamas. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Nizar Awadallah: 'Hidden Key' in the Gaza Negotiations". Asharq Al-Awsat. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2026. He briefly led Hamas' political bureau in Gaza between late 2004 and early 2007, a period marked by intense political and military challenges. It was during this time that Hamas took control of Gaza by force, captured Shalit, and faced international isolation after forming the Palestinian government in 2006—only to be swiftly dismissed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
  4. ↑ "Nizar Mohammed Awadallah". OpenSanctions.org. 1957-12-11. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  5. ↑ "Nizar Awadallah". ECFR. 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Nizar Awadallah". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  7. ↑ "Nizar Mohammed Awadallah". OpenSanctions.org. 1957-12-11. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  8. ↑ "Nizar Awadallah". ECFR. 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  9. ↑ NewsDesk, Israel (2021-03-09). "Who are you, Nizar Awadallah? The man who could replace Sinwar led by Hamas – Profile". IsraelNational.News. Archived from the original on 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  10. ↑ "حركة المقاومة الإسلامية - حماس -". 2017-03-30. Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  11. ↑ "أعضاء المكتب السياسي - نزار عوض الله" [Nizar Awadallah – political office member (hamas.ps)]. web.archive.org. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  12. ↑ "حركة المقاومة الإسلامية - حماس -". 2017-07-18. Archived from the original on 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  13. ↑ "Sinwar wins 2nd term as Hamas Gaza chief after tense election standoff". The Times of Israel.
  14. ↑ "Yahya Sinwar wins reelection as Hamas leader in Gaza". Ynetnews. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  15. ↑ "Counter Terrorism Designations | Office of Foreign Assets Control". ofac.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  16. ↑ "Senior Hamas Political Leaders Nizar Awadallah, Mahmoud al-Zahar Killed by Israel Defense Forces in Khan Yunis Airstrike". Santa Monica Observer. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  17. ↑ ""Senior Hamas Political Leader Nizar Awadallah Killed by Israel Defense Forces in Khan Yunis Airstrike" – canadafreepress". 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  18. ↑ "Nizar Awadallah: 'Hidden Key' in the Gaza Negotiations". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
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