Saleh al-Arouri

Biography

Saleh Muhammad Sulayman al-Arouri was a Palestinian politician and senior military commander who was central to Hamas operations for over 30 years. Born on August 19, 1966, in the West Bank village of 'Arura near Ramallah, al-Arouri became one of the most influential figures in Hamas's political and military ranks. He was the deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau from October 2017 until he died and was a founding commander of the organization's military wing, the Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades. His life included imprisonment, exile, and ultimately his assassination by Israeli forces in January 2024.

Al-Arouri's involvement with Hamas began during his university years when he studied Islamic Sharia at Hebron University in 1985. There, he was elected head of the Islamic faction and joined Hamas in 1987 during the First Intifada. His activities led to multiple imprisonments by Israeli authorities starting in 1990. He spent his longest sentence of 15 years in prison before being released in 2007, after which he was deported to Syria. In the following years, he lived in exile, moving from Syria to Turkey, and finally settling in Lebanon in 2015.

Throughout his career, al-Arouri was known as a skilled organizer and strategist in Hamas. He was the military commander for the West Bank and played a key role in fundraising and recruitment. Intelligence sources described him as capable, charismatic, and shrewd, with extensive connections throughout the region. His role went beyond military operations to include important political duties within Hamas's leadership.

Al-Arouri's actions attracted international attention and condemnation. The United States labeled him a terrorist in 2015 and offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. He was seen as one of the main planners of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and was credited with expanding Hamas's operations in the West Bank. He was killed on January 2, 2024, in Dahyeh, a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, in an Israeli drone strike during the ongoing Gaza conflict. After his death, Zaher Jabarin took over his leadership role in the West Bank for Hamas.