This index to the collected set of modern Palestinian biographies may assist as a research tool. Each name links to the longer biography. Commonly used Anglicised spellings of names are listed to assist searches and for convenience of reference.

A
Mahmud 'Abbas (Mahmoud Abbas): long-time Fatah leader
Muhammad 'Abbas: head of PLF
'Issam 'Abd al-Hadi (Issam Abd al-Hadi, Issam Abdul-Hadi, Issam Abdel-Hadi, Issam Abdulhadi): GUPW leader
Hayil 'Abd al-Hamid (Hayil Abdul-Hamid, Hayil Abdelhamid): former Fatah leader
Fu'ad 'Abd al-Karim (Fuad Abdul-Karim, Fuad Abdul-Kareem, Fuad Abdelkarim): PFLP military commander
Qays 'Abd al-Karim (Qais 'Abd al-Karim, Qays Abdel-Karim, Qais Abdel-Karim, Qais Abdelkarim): DFLP leader
Khalid 'Abd al-Majid (Khalid Abdul Majid): head of dissident PPSF faction
Bakr 'Abd al-Munaym (Baker Abdel Munem): ambassador to Canada
As'ad 'Abd al-Qadir (Asad Abdul-Qadir, Asad Abdul-Kadir, Asad Abdelkadir): veteran Fatah leader
Hatim 'Abd al-Qadir (Hatim Abdul-Qadir, Hatim Abdelkadir): leading Fatah member in Jerusalem
Tayyib 'Abd al-Rahim (Tayyeb Abdul-Rahim, Tayyib Abdul-Rahim, Tayyib Abdelrahim): Secretary to the PA Presidency
Ahmad 'Abd al-Rahman (Ahmad Abdul-Rahman, Ahmad Abdelrahim, Ahmed Abdelrahim): PA Cabinet Secretary
As'ad 'Abd al-Rahman (Asad Abdul-Rahman, Asad Abdelrahman): PLO-EC member responsible for refugees
Hisham 'Abd al-Raziq (Hisham Abdel-Razek): PA minister for prisoners
Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi (Haidar Abdel Shafi, Haidar Abdul-Shafi, Haidar Abdelshafi, Haidar Abd al-Shafi): veteran Gazan leader
(Adib) Yasir 'Abd-Rabbu (Yasser Abed Rabbu, Yasser Abed Rabbo): PA minister for information
Samir 'Abdullah: economist
Na'im Abu al-Hummus (Naim Abul Hummus, Naim Abul Humous, Naim Abu Humos): PA Minister of Education
Ziyad Abu Amr (Ziad Abu Amr): leading PLC member
Radwan Abu Ayyash: journalist and Fatah leader
'Abdullah Abu 'Azza: former Muslim Brotherhood leader
Bahjat Abu Gharbiyya (Bahjat Abu Gharbiyeh, Bahjat Abu Gharbiyah): veteran PLO leader
Mahmud Abu Hanud (Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, Mahmud Abu Hanoud): former Hamas commander
Mitri Abu 'Ita (Mitri Abu Eita): PA Minister of Transport
Salwa Abu Khadra - biography forthcoming: GUPW Secretary-General, member of Fatah-RC member and PLO-CC
Khalid Abu Khalid: nationalist poet
Samih Abu Kuwayk: former Fatah leader
Ibrahim Abu Lughod (Ibrahim Abu Lughud): leading Palestinian academic
Musa Abu Marzuq (Musa Abu Marzook, Musa Abu Marzuk): Hamas political leader
'Abd al-Muhsin Abu Mayzar (Abdul Muhsin Abu Mayzar, Abdul Muhsin Abu Maizer, Abdul Muhsin Abu Maizar): West Bank leader and former PLO-EC spokesman
Furayh Abu Midayn (Freih Abu Midayn, Freih Abu Medein): former PA Minister for Justice
'Abd al-Karim Abu Salah (Abdul Karim Abu Salah): PA minister for justice
Rashid Abu Shabak: Gazan security force head
Ismail Abu Shanab: Hamas leader in Gaza
Majid Abu Sharar: former Fatah leftist leader
Bassam Abu Sharif: former PFLP leader, special advisor to 'Arafat
Hamid Abu Sitta - biography forthcoming: veteran PLO leader
Ziyad Abu Ziyad (Ziad Abu Ziad, Ziyad Abu Zayad, Ziyad Abu Zayyad, Ziad Abu Zayad): editor and PLC member for Jerusalem
Ahmad 'Afana: Fatah military commander
Zakariyya al-Agha: Fatah leader in Gaza, former PA minister
Albert Aghazarian: editor and Palestinian Armenian leader
'Abd al-Rahim Ahmad (Ahmad 'Abd al-Rahim, Abdul Rahim Ahmad, Abdel Rahim Ahmad): former ALF head
Azzam al-Ahmad: PA Minister of Public Works
Shaykh Sa'ad al-Din al-'Alami: West Bank religious leader
Layla ‘Allush: editor and poet
Naji 'Allush: veteran Fatah dissident, writer, poet
Nabil 'Amr (Nabil Amru, Nabeel Amru, Nabil Amer): former PA minister, editor, TV/radio director
Yasir 'Amr (Yasser Amru): PLO-EC member & former PA minister of education
‘Abd al-Latif ‘Aql: playwright and poet
Basil Aql (Basil Akl): former delegate to the UN
Mamduh 'Aqr (Mamdouh al-Aker, Mamduh al-Aqr, Mamdouh al-Aqr, Mamduh Akr, Mamdouh Akr): human rights activist
Yasir 'Arafat (Yasser Arafat, Yassir Arafat): chairman of the PLO-EC, PA president
Hasan 'Asfur (Hassan Asfur, Hasan Asfour): leading negotiator, former PA minister
Na'im al-Ashhab (Na'im Ashhab, Naim Ashhab, Naim Ashab, Naim al-Ashab): veteran JCP/PCP/PPP leader
Hamdan 'Ashur (Hamdan Ashour): PA minister for housing
Abu Nidal 'Ashqar - biography forthcoming: head of PLF
Hanan Mikhail 'Ashrawi (Hanan Ashrawi): long-term international representative, academic, former PA minister, founder of Miftah
'Atallah 'Atallah: dissident Fatah leader
Hanna Khuri al-Atrash: mayor of Bayt Sahur
Ribhi 'Awad: Fatah / PLO international representative
'Arabi 'Awwad: veteran communist leader
B
Ibrahim Bakr - biography forthcoming: former PLO-EC vice-chair
Hakam Bal'awi: veteran Fatah leader
Sabri al-Banna: head of own anti-PLO group
Bashir Barghuthi (Bashir Barghouti, Bashir Barghouthi, Basheer Barghouti, Basheer Barghouthi): communist leader & newspaper editor
Marwan Barghuthi (Marwan Barghouti, Marwan Barghouthi): West Bank Fatah leader
Mustafa Barghuthi (Mustapha Barghouti, Mustafa Barghouti, Mustafa Barghouthi, Mustapha Barghouthi): human rights & democracy activist
Mu‘in Bsisu: acclaimed poet and PLO officer
Hasan al-Buhayri: nationalist poet
D
Ibrahim al-Daghma (Ibrahim al-Dughma, Ibrahim Dughmeh): PA Minister of Justice
Muhammad Dahlan (Mohammed Dahlan): former Gazan security force head
Ahmad Sidqi Dajani: veteran PLO leader
Ibrahim Dakkak (Ibrahim Daqqaq): intellectual and pro-democracy activist
Mahmud Darwish: Palestine's national poet
Zaki Darwish: writer and critic
Bishara Dawud (Bishara Dawood): former mayor of Bayt Jalla, PLC member
Rabiha Diab - biography forthcoming: head of Fatah's union of social work committees; West Bank Fatah leader
Mustafa Dudin: former anti-PLO leader on West Bank
F
Khalid al-Fahum (Khaled al-Fahoum, Khalid al-Fahoum): former president of the PNC
Imad Faluji (Imad Falouji): PA communications minister and Islamist
Salam Fayyad (Salam Fayad): PA Minister of Finance
'Abdullah Franji (Abdullah Afranji, Abdullah Ifranji): Fatah and PLO representative
Ilyas Frayj (Elias Freij): former long-term Mayor of Bethlehem
G
'Abd al-Fattah Ghanim - biography forthcoming: PLF dissident leader
Samir Ghawsha (Samir Ghosheh, Sameer Ghosheh, Samir Ghoshe, Samir Ghawshe, Samir Ghawshah, Samir Ghosha, Samir Ghusha, Samir Ghusheh, Samir Ghushah): head of PPSF, former PA minister
Jawid al-Ghusayn (Jaweed al-Ghussein, Jawid al-Ghussein, Jaweed Ghussein, Jawid Ghussein): former head of Palestine National Fund
Ibrahim Ghusha (Ibrahim Ghushah, Ibrahim Ghawshah, Ibrahim Ghawsheh): Hamas leader in Jordan
Muhammad Ghunaym (Muhammad Ghnaym, Mohammed Ghnaym, Mohammed Ghunaym): veteran Fatah leader
H
George Habash: former head of PFLP
Sakhr Habash (Saqr Habash): long-time Fatah leader
Wadi' Haddad: former PFLP leader and dissident para-military leader
'Abd al-Rahman Hamad (Abdelrahman Hamad, Abdul Rahman Hamad): PA Minister of Natural Resources
Said Hamami (Said Hammami): former PLO diplomat
Wahid al-Hamdallah: former mayor of Anabta
'Abd al-Karim al-Hammad - biography forthcoming: veteran DFLP leader
Akram Haniya (Akram Haniyya): newspaper editor and negotiator
Hilmi Hanun (Hilmi Hannun, Hilmi Hanoun): former mayor of Tulkarm
Bilal al-Hasan (Bilal al-Hassan): former PDFLP leader & writer
Hani al-Hasan (Hani al-Hassan): veteran Fatah leader
Khalid al-Hasan (Khalid al-Hassan): veteran Fatah leader
Nayif Hawatmah (Nayef Hawatma, Nayif Hawatma, Nayef Hawatmeh, Nayif Hawatmeh, Nayef Hawatmah): head of DFLP
George Hazboun (George Hazbun): leading West Bank trade unionist
Amin al-Hindi: senior security officer in Gaza
Hani al-Hindi - biography forthcoming: PFLP founder and leader
'Abd al-Fattah Hmud (Abdul-Fattah Hmud): early Fatah leader
'Abd al-Fattah Humayl (Abdul Fattah Hamayal): PA minister
Rashid Husayn: poet and political activist
Faysal al-Husayni (Faisal Husseini): former Jerusalem leader
Shafiq al-Hut (Shafiq al-Hout, Shafik al-Hout): veteran PLO leader
I
'Ali Ishaq - biography forthcoming: former head of PLF
J
Ghazi al-Jabali (Ghazi Jabali, Ghazi Jabaly): former PA head of civil police
Muhammad al-Ja'bari (Mohammed Ja'bari): former long-term Hebron mayor
Nabil al-Ja'bari: chair of Hebron University, negotiator
Jabra Ibrahim Jabra: poet and critic
Imil Jarjoui (Emile Jarjoui): Christian leader in PLC and for PA
Bassam Jarrar: Islamist intellectual
Ahmad Jibril: head of PFLP-GC
Salim Jubran: poet and political activist
K
Sa'id Kamal: former PLO and current Arab League diplomat
Zahira Kamal (Zahara Kamal): Fida & women's leader in the West Bank
Hamdi Kan'an (Hamdi Kanaan): former mayor of Nablus
Ghassan Kanafani: writer & PFLP leader
Marwan Kanafani: former PLO’s information officer and negotiator
Sa'id al-Karunz (Sa'edi al-Krounz, Said al-Krounz): PA minister for industry
'Abd al-Wahhab Kayyali (Abdul Wahhab Kayyali): former ALF leader & historian
Husam Khadr: refugee rights leader in Nablus
Karim Khalaf (Kareem Khalaf): former Ramallah mayor
Salah Khalaf: former Fatah leader & chief ideologue
Taysir Khalid (Tayseer Khalid, Mahmoud Odeh, Mahmud Odeh): DFLP political leader
Samiha al-Khalil - biography forthcoming: founder of In'ash al-Usra, women's leader, PA presidential candidate
‘Ali al-Khalili: literary critic and poet
Anwar al-Khatib: former Jerusalem governor
Ghassan al-Khatib: PA Minister of Labour, development economist, editor
Ruhi al-Khatib (Rawhi al-Khatib): former Jerusalem mayor
Nazih Khayr: poet and Druze activist
Sami Kilani: al-Najah university official, negotiator
M
Wajih al-Madani - biography forthcoming: PLA commander
'Abd al-Raziq al-Majaydah (Abdelraziq al-Majaida, Abdul Raziq al-Majayda): leading PA security official
Jamil al-Majdalawi (Jamil Majdalawi, Jameel Majdalawi): senior PFLP political leader
'Abd al-Rahim Malluh (Abdelrahim Malluh, Abdul-Rahim Malluh): PFLP deputy leader
‘Izz al-Din al-Manasra: poet and editor
Zuhayr al-Manasra (Zuheir al-Manasra, Zuheir al-Manasreh, Zuheir Manasrah, Zuhair Almanasreh): West Bank security head
Jamal al-Mansur (Jamal al-Mansour): former Hamas leader
Sharif Mash'al (Sharif Mish'al): veteran Fatah leader in Hebron
Hikmat al-Masri: veteran Nablus leader and former Jordanian minister
Mahir al-Masri (Maher al-Masri): PA minister of economy, trade and industry
Hajj Ma'zuz al-Masri (Ma'zooz al-Masri): former mayor of Nablus
Zafir al-Masri: former mayor of Nablus
Muhammad Milhim (Mohammed Milhem, Muhammad Milhem): mayor of Halhul
Khalid Mish'al (Khalid Mishaal, Khaled Mishal, Khaled Mish'al): Hamas leader
Zuhayr Muhsin (Zuhair Muhsin, Zuheir Muhsin): former head of Sa'iqa
Hilmi Muhtasib: West Bank Islamic leader
Sa'id Musa Muragha (Said Musa Muragha): head od dissident Fatah-Uprising
Ahmad Shawqi Mahmud al-Musa: former mayor of Jenin
Muhammad al-Musallami: former PFLP leader
N
Talal Naji - biography forthcoming: operational head of PFLP-GC
Sulayman al-Najjab (Suleiman al-Najjab): former leader of the JCP
Muhammad al-Najjar (Mohammed al-Najjar): former leader of Fatah
Muhammad Zuhdi Nashashibi (Muhammad Nashashibi, Mohammed Nashashibi): former PA Finance Minister
Hanna Nasir (Hanna Nasser): head of Bir Zayt University, former PLO-EC member
Kamal Nasir (Kamel Nasser, Kamal Nasser): poet and PLO leader
Amin al-Nasr: former mayor of Qalqilya
Fu'ad Nassar (Fuad Nasser, Fuad Nassar, Fu'ad Nasser): former head of JCP
Maha Nassar - biography forthcoming: head of PFLP-affiliated Union of Palestinian Women's Committees
Mustafa 'Abd al-Nabi Natshah (Mustafa Natshah, Mustafa Natsheh, Mustapha Natshah, Mustapha Natsheh): mayor of Hebron
Rafiq al-Natsha (Rafiq al-Natsheh): PA Minister of Agriculture
Mamduh Nawfal: Fida leader
Muhammad Nazzal: Hamas leader
Walid Nimr: early Fatah leader
Anwar Nusaybah (Anwar Nusseibeh, Anwar Nuseibeh): former Jordanian cabinet minister, West Bank leader
Sari Nusaybah (Sari Nusseibeh, Sari Nuseibeh): intellectual & PLO representative for Jerusalem
Q
Faruq al-Qaddumi (Farouq Kaddumi, Faruk Kaddumi, Farouk Kaddumi, Farouk Qaddumi, Faruk Qaddumi): PLO and Fatah leader
'Isam al-Qadi: head of Sa'iqa
Walid Qamhawi (Walid Kamhawi): veteran PLO and Nablus leader
Samih al-Qasim: acclaimed poet
Nabil Qassis (Nabeel Qassis, Nabil Qseis, Nabil Kassis, Nabeel Kassis): PA Minister and negotiator
Ahmad Qatamish (Ahmad Qatamesh, Ahmed Qatamesh, Ahmed Katamesh): PFLP activist & writer
Fahd Qawasma (Fahd Kawasmeh): former mayor of Hebron
'Ali al-Qawasmi (Ali al-Kawasmi): PA Minister of Youth and Sports
Nasir al-Qidwa (Nasser al-Kidwa, Nasser al-Qidwa, Nasir al-Kidwa): Palestinian ambassador to the UN
Taysir Quba'a (Taysir Kubaa): PFLP leader
Ahmad Qurai' (Ahmad Qurei, Ahmed Qurei, Ahmed Qurai): speaker of the PLC & Fatah leader
R
Salih Ra'fat: head of Fida
Jibril Rajub (Jibril Rajoub): former West Bank security force head
'Abd al-Aziz Rantisi (Abdul-Aziz Rantisi, Abdelaziz Rantisi): Hamas leader
Harun Hashim al-Rashid: poet, broadcasting director, political representative
Muhammad Rashid: economic advisor to ‘Arafat
S
Ahmad Sa'adat (Ahmed Saadat, Ahmad Saadat, Ahmed Sa'adat): head of PFLP
‘Abd al-Karim al-Sab‘awi: poet from Gaza
Salah Salah: former PFLP leader
‘Ali Hassan Salameh: former PLO intelligence chief
Fahmi al-Salfiti: former leader of the JCP
'Abd al-Jawad Salih (Abdul-Jawad Saleh, Abdel-Jawad Saleh, 'Abd al-Jawad Saleh): former mayor of al-Bira & PA minister
Nimr Salih (Nimr Saleh): former leading Fatah leftist
Qays Samarrai' (Qais Samarrai', Qais Samurai, Qais Samarrai, Qays Samarrai, Qays Samurai): DFLP leader
'Isam Sartawi: former PLO leader and negotiator
Shaykh 'Abd al-Hamid Sa'ih ('Abd al-Hamid Sayih, Abdul-Hamid Sayih, Abdelhamid Sayih): West Bank religious leader
Mamduh Sabri Saydam: former Fatah field commander
Mayy Sayigh: poet and long-time Palestinian women's leader
Sa'd Sayil: former Fatah military leader
Salah Shahada (Salah Shehadeh, Salah Shehada, Salah Shehade, Salah Shehadah): Hamas military leader
'Abd al-'Aziz Shahin (Abdel Aziz Shahin): PA Minister of Supply
Bassam Shak'a (Bassam Shakaa, Bassam Shaq'a, Bassam Shaqaa): former mayor of Nablus
Ghassan Shak'a (Ghassan Shakaa, Ghassan Shaq'a, Ghassan Shaqaa): mayor of Nablus
Ramadan Shallah: head of Islamic Jihad
Kamal al-Sharafi: PA minister for health
'Abd al-Rahman al-Sharif: former governor of the Nablus district
Nabil Sha'th (Nabil Shaath, Nabil Sha'ath): PA Minister for Planning & International cooperation
'Azzam al-Shawwa: PA minister for energy
Rashad al-Shawwa: former mayor of Gaza
Ahmad al-Shaybi (Ahmad al-Shibi, Ahmed Shibi, Ahmad Shibi): PA health minister
Husayn al-Shaykh (Hussein al-Sheikh, Hussein Sheikh): West Bank Fatah leader
'Azmi Shu'aybi (Azmi Shuaibi): Fida leader
Jamal al-Shubaki (Jamal Shobaki, Jamal al-Shobaki, Jamal Shubaki, Jamal al-Shubbaki): Hebron Fatah PLC member
'Abd al-Majid Shuman: leading Palestinian businessman
Hanna Siniora (Hanna Saniura, Hanna Sanyura, Hanna Sinioria, Hanna Sinyora): journal editor & Jerusalem leader
Muhammad Subayh (Mohamed Sobeih, Mohammed Sobeih): Palestinian representative to the Arab League
Jamal al-Surani (Jamal al-Sourani): former PLO diplomat and secretary of PLO-EC
Zuhayr al-Surani (Zuhair al-Sourani, Zuhair al-Surani, Zuhayr al-Sourani): PA minister for justice
'Abd al-'Aziz Suwayti: former mayor of Jericho
T
Hasan Tahbub: West Bank religious official
Mahir al-Tahir - biography forthcoming: PFLP spokesman
Salah al-Ta'mari (Salah Taamari, Salah Ta'amari): veteran Fatah leader
Zuhdi Tarazi: former PLO representative to the UN
Jamil Tarifi: PA Minister of Civil Affairs and businessman
Ibrahim Tawil: former mayor of al-Bira
Jawad al-Tibi (Jawad Tibi) : surgeon and PLC member
Fadwa Tuqan: Palestine's most acclaimed poetess
Qadri Tuqan: Nablus politician under Jordanian rule & writer
U
Kamal 'Udwan (Kamal Adwan): former Fatah leader
Sa'ib 'Urayqat (Saaeb Erekat, Saaeb Erikat, Sa'eb Erekat, Saeb Erekat): leading negotiator, PA cabinet minister
W
'Abd al-Aziz al-Wajih (Abdul Aziz Al Wajih, Abdel Aziz al-Wajih): former PLA colonel, PLO-EC member
Fa'iq Warrad - biography forthcoming: former JCP leader
Intisar al-Wazir (Intizar al-Wazir, Intissar al-Wazir): long-term leader of the women's movement, PA minister
Khalil al-Wazir: former Fatah deputy leader
Y
General 'Abd al-Razzaq Yahya (Abdul-Razzaq Yahya, Abdelrazzaq Yahya): former PA Interior Minister
Tal'at Ya'qub - biography forthcoming: PLF leader
Ahmad al-Yamani (Ahmed al-Yamani): veteran PFLP leader
Khalid al-Yashruti - biography forthcoming: former head of Palestine National Fund
Shaykh Ahmad Yassin (Ahmed Yasin, Ahmed Yassin): spiritual head of Hamas
Nasr Yusif (Nasir Yusif, Nasr Yusif, Nasir Yussef, Nasr Yussef, Nasr Yussuf): PA security leader
Z
Mustafa al-Zabri (Mustafa Zubri, Mustafa Zibri, Mustapha Zubri, Mustapha Zibri): former head of PFLP
Mahmud Zahhar (Mahmoud Zahhar): Hamas leader
Abbas Zaki: veteran Fatah leader in Hebron
Riyad al-Za'nun (Riad al-Za'nun, Riyad al-Zanoun, Riad al-Zanoun, Riyad Zan'un, Riad Zannun, Riyad al-Zaanoun, Riyad Zaanoun): former PA Minister of Health
Salim Za'nun (Salim Zanoun): veteran Fatah leader & speaker of the PNC
Nadim Zaru: former mayor of Ramallah
Ahmad Za'rur - biography forthcoming: founder of PFLP-GC and AOLP
Salah Zaydan (Saleh Zaydan, Saleh Zeidan, Salah Zeidan) - biography forthcoming: head of DFLP in Gaza
Tawfiq Zayyad: poet and former mayor of Nazareth
Ziyadh Ya'kub Ziyadeh: former mayor of Bir Zayt
INSTITUTIONS
PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Palestine Liberation Organisation)
PNC (Palestinian National Congress, Palestine National Congress)
PLO Central Council (and current membership is here)
PLO Executive Committee (and membership from 1969 to 1988 is here)
Palestine Liberation Army (PLA)
Palestine National Fund (PNF)
Palestinian Armed Struggle Command (PASC)
Palestinian Red Crescent Society
Fatah (Fateh) (membership of Fatah Central Committee from 1966 to the present is here)
Palestinian People's Party (PPP)
Palestine Communist Party (PCP)
National Liberation League (NLL)
Jordanian Communist Party (JCP)
Palestinian Communist Organisation
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)
al-Sa'iqa
Arab Liberation Front (ALF)
Fatah-Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal group)
Hamas
Muslim Brotherhood
Islamic Jihad
Fatah-Uprising
Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)
Active Organisation for the Liberation of Palestine (AOLP)
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF)
Palestinian Revolutionary Communist Party (PRCP)
Palestinian Democratic Union (Fida)

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