Salah al-Bardawil
Palestinian politician (1959–2025)
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Salah al-Bardawil (Arabic: صلاح البردويل , 24 August 1959 – 23 March 2025) was a Palestinian politician, a senior member of Hamas' political bureau and a spokesperson for the organization until 2025. He also served as a member at the Palestinian Legislative Council for Khan Yunis Governorate from 2006 to 2025.[1][2]
Institute of Arab Research and Studies
Salah al-Bardawil | |
|---|---|
| صلاح البردويل | |
.jpg) Anniversary of Hamas (2012). Al-Bardawil standing top left | |
| Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for Khan Yunis Governorate | |
| In office 18 February 2006 – 23 March 2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 August 1959 |
| Died | 23 March 2025 (aged 65) Khan Yunis, Palestine |
| Party | Hamas |
| Cairo University Institute of Arab Research and Studies | |
| Occupation |
|
Al-Bardawil was born in refugee camp in Khan Younis, and joined Hamas in 1987.[3][4] In 1993 he was detained by Israel.
Al-Bardawil was often quoted in Western media as a source for the views and pronouncements of Hamas. In March 2018, he told Quds News Network that Hamas was prepared to enter into dialogue with the United States.[5] This statement angered the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah, who believed Hamas wanted to be seen as the main representative of Palestinians.[6] Al-Bardawil had previously stated in 2017 that Palestinian reconciliation efforts were failing due to U.S. pressure.[7]
Following the decision by the United States to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the killings of Palestinian protesters that followed in May 2018, al-Bardawil was quoted by numerous sources as stating that 50 out of 62 people killed by IDF soldiers had been Hamas members.[8][9][10] This followed a statement from Israeli forces that 50 out of the 62 Palestinians killed during protests on the Gaza border were activists, and a statement from Islamic Jihad that three of the 62 deaths were members of its military wing.[11]
As part of the Gaza war, Al-Bardawil and his wife were killed in an Israeli drone airstrike on his tent west of Khan Yunis on 22 March 2025. He was 65.[12][13]
