Mahmoud al-Zahar

Mahmoud Khaled Zahar, more commonly known as Mahmoud al-Zahar is the internationally designated co-founder and senior member of Hamas. As a representative of Hamas, Zahar has been vocal in his endorsement of violence against Jews and the destruction of Israel. On November 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Zahar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).“United States and United Kingdom Take Coordinated Action Against Hamas Leaders and Financiers,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 14, 2023, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1907; Lina Alshawabkeh, “Hamas: Who are the group’s most prominent leaders?,” BBC News, July 31, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67103298.

Of Palestinian and Egyptian descent, Zahar attended university in Cairo and trained as a medical doctor. Zahar worked as a doctor in Gaza before officials removed him from his role due to his political positions. Lina Alshawabkeh, “Hamas: Who are the group’s most prominent leaders?,” BBC News, July 31, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67103298. Despite his dismissal, Zahar remained involved in health access, and established various medical and Islamic charities.“Mahmoud Al-Zahar,” European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed August 19, 2024, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/mahmoud_al_zahar_plc/.

Zahar helped found Hamas in 1988, reportedly serving as the organization’s first press spokesman.Ewen MacAskill, “Leadership may have passed to last founding member left alive,” Guardian (London), April 19, 2004, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/20/israel1. Months after Hamas’s founding , Israeli authorities detained Zahar, later exiling him to Marj al-Zohour—a “No-Man’s Land” between Israeli army checkpoints in Israel and southern Lebanon—in 1992. Lina Alshawabkeh, “Hamas: Who are the group’s most prominent leaders?,” BBC News, July 31, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67103298; “Hamas-Iran links full of contradictions, but also interests,” Jerusalem Post, March 19, 2007, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/hamas-iran-links-full-of-contradictions-but-also-interests; Associated Press, “Lebanon Shuts Borders To 400 Palestinians Kicked Out By Israel,” Deseret News, December 18, 1992, https://www.deseret.com/1992/12/18/19022132/lebanon-shuts-borders-to-400-palestinians-kicked-out-by-israel/. His time in Lebanon was short lived. He returned to Gaza later that year. Shortly after his return, Zahar was the subject of a failed Israeli assassination attempt that ultimately killed his oldest son, Khaled. An Israeli raid in 2008 killed his other son, Hussam, a member of Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. “Mahmoud al-Zahar,” European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed August 20, 2024, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/mahmoud_al_zahar_plc/; Allegra Straton, “Israelis kill Hamas leader's son in Gaza raid,” Guardian (London), January 15, 2008, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jan/15/israelandthepalestinians.allegrastratton; “Hamas leader's son killed in Israeli attack,” Guardian (London), September 10, 2003, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/sep/10/israel1.

In 2006, Zahar was elected to the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Lara Keay, “Who are the key leaders of Hamas – inside Gaza and beyond?,” Sky News, August 6, 2024, https://news.sky.com/story/who-are-the-key-leaders-of-hamas-inside-gaza-and-beyond-13042603. Although he rarely gives interviews or speeches, Zahar is reportedly one of Hamas’s more conservative leaders. “Mahmoud al-Zahar,” European Council on Foreign Relations, accessed August 20, 2024, https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/mahmoud_al_zahar_plc/. Zahar was a close associate of Ismail Haniyeh, the deceased chief of Hamas’s political bureau between 2017 and 2024. “United States and United Kingdom Take Coordinated Action Against Hamas Leaders and Financiers,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 14, 2023, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1907. Zahar maintains close associations to Iran and has thanked the country for its continued support of Hamas. “United States and United Kingdom Take Coordinated Action Against Hamas Leaders and Financiers,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 14, 2023, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1907. Zahar has been an outspoken critic of Israel, often advocating violence against Jews in the process.

Zahar’s activities have directly contributed to Hamas’s ongoing campaigns of violence. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a mass attack on Israel, sending hundreds of fighters across the border into Israeli towns while simultaneously launching a rocket barrage toward Israel.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2. Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people in the attack and took hostage at least 240 civilians and soldiers.Peter Saidel and Dov Lieber, “Hamas Took More Than 200 Hostages From Israel. Here’s What to Know.,” Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/hamas-hostages-israel-gaza-41432124; “Israel revises Hamas attack death toll to ‘around 1,200,’” Reuters, November 10, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-revises-death-toll-oct-7-hamas-attack-around-1200-2023-11-10/.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated multiple Hamas officials the aftermath of October 7. In the third round of sanctions on November 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Zahar as an SDGT.United States and United Kingdom Take Coordinated Action Against Hamas Leaders and Financiers,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 14, 2023, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1907. Shortly after, the United Kingdom added Zahar to its financial sanctions list on December 13, 2023. “CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK,” Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, January 25, 2024, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b2442a160765001118f8ca/Counter-Terrorism__International_.pdf. Several countries and international bodies followed suit and added Zahar to its financial sanctions lists.“Consolidated List,” Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, accessed August 19, 2024, https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/regulation8_consolidated.xlsx; “Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List,” Government of Canada, accessed August 19, 2024,  https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/assets/pdfs/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/sema-lmes.pdf.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Hamas
Type(s) of Organization:
Political, religious, social service provider, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group, pan-Islamist, Qutbist, Sunni
Position(s):
Palestinian Foreign Minister

  • Designations
  • Rhetoric

United States

  • The U.S. government designated “Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on November 14, 2023.FOOTNOTE

Australia

  • The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade added “Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar” to its Consolidated List on January 22, 2024.FOOTNOTE

Canada

  • The Government of Canada added “Mahmoud al-Zahar” to its Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List on February 2, 2024.FOOTNOTE

Japan

  • The Ministry of Finance added “Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar” to its Economic Sanctions and Targets List on March 5, 2024.FOOTNOTE

United Kingdom

  • The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added “Mahmoud Zahar” to its list of Financial Sanctions Targets on December 13, 2023.FOOTNOTE

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