Editing Hamas (section)

==== Shura Council and Political Bureau ====
Hamas's overarching governing body is the [[Majlis al-Shura]] (Shura Council), based on the [[Quran]]ic concept of consultation and popular assembly ({{transliteration|ar|[[shura]]}}), which Hamas leaders argue provides for democracy within an Islamic framework.<ref>A. Hovdenak, "Hamas in Transition:The Failure of Sanctions", in Michelle Pace, Peter Seeberg (eds.), [https://books.google.com/books?id=RgLcAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA64 ''The European Union's Democratization Agenda in the Mediterranean''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320154331/https://books.google.com/books?id=RgLcAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA64#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=20 March 2024 }}, Routledge, 2013 pp. 50–79 [64].</ref> As the organization grew more complex and Israeli pressure increased, the Shura Council was renamed the General Consultative Council, with members elected from local council groups. The council elects the 15-member Political Bureau (''al-Maktab al-Siyasi'')<ref name="Mandaville">Peter Mandaville,[https://books.google.com/books?id=2bvcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA282 ''Islam and Politics''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320154524/https://books.google.com/books?id=2bvcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA282#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=20 March 2024 }}, Routledge, 2014 Rev.ed, p. 282.</ref> that makes decisions for Hamas. Representatives come from Gaza, the West Bank, leaders in exile and [[Palestinian prisoners in Israel#Administrative detention|Israeli prisons]].<ref name="Berti" >Benedetta Berti, [https://books.google.com/books?id=EUcDAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA88 ''Armed Political Organizations: From Conflict to Integration''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320154536/https://books.google.com/books?id=EUcDAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA88#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=20 March 2024 }}, JHU Press, 2013 p. 88.</ref> The Political Bureau was based in [[Damascus]] until January 2012, when Hamas's support for the [[Syrian opposition to Bashar al-Assad]] during the [[Syrian civil war]] led to the office's relocation to [[Qatar]].<ref name="Berti" /><ref>Mohammed Ayoob, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ph6eAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT47 ''Will the Middle East Implode?''], John Wiley & Sons, 2014 p. 47.</ref>