Hamas completed the main stages of ‘internal elections’ for the terror organization’s leadership, Arab media outlets reported Monday morning. According to the reports, no significant change occurred at the top: Khalil al-Hayya will continue leading the movement in the Gaza Strip, Zaher Jabarin remains Hamas leader for terror operations in Judea and Samaria, and Khaled Mashal continues heading the murderous organization abroad.
The ‘elections’, held under the shadow of war, set the stage for the most dramatic choice: the identity of the next chief, replacing Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, who were killed. The race now centers on two main candidates: Khalil al-Hayya, close to the Iranian axis, and Khaled Mashal, who previously held the position. Sources in the organization estimate that the chosen leader will serve for a “transition period” of only about a year.
The decision to hold ‘elections’ now, many months after the elimination of the organization’s top brass, including the deputy head of the bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, stems, among other things, from the ceasefire that allowed the end of the “state of emergency” in the organization. At the same time, there are sharp internal disputes within Hamas regarding the future strategy, the future of governance in Gaza, and the organization’s regional alliances.
Reports also indicate that if al-Hayya is elected head of the political bureau, a replacement for him to lead the Gaza Strip has already been chosen. The official announcement of the identity of the new leader is expected to be made public within the coming week, and it will determine whether Hamas will continue to entrench its positions or change its political direction under pressure from the mediating countries.