Hamas Nearing Conclusion of Leadership Selection Process, Senior Official Says

Kathmandu. A senior official of the Palestinian Islamic movement (Hamas) stated on Sunday that Hamas is in the final stage of selecting a new leader.

According to information provided to AFP, two prominent figures are competing for the leadership.

Hamas has recently completed the formation of a new committee for the Shura Council, its consultative body composed of religious scholars, which is the new political bureau.

Since the war began in Gaza following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, many Hamas leaders, including two former chiefs, have been killed in actions by the Israeli army.

“The movement has completed internal elections in three sectors and has reached the final stage of selecting the head of the political bureau,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

He added, “The race for the group's leadership is now between Khaled Mashal and Khalil al-Hayya.”

A second source within Hamas confirmed this development.

Violence continues in Gaza despite the ceasefire entering its second phase last month, mediated by the United States, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the agreement.

Council members are elected every four years by representatives from Hamas's three branches: the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, and the movement's external leadership.

Hamas prisoners held in Israeli jails are also eligible to vote.

After the formation of the Council, the political bureau will be selected, which in turn selects the head of the movement.

Renewal of Internal Legitimacy

According to a third source within Hamas, the new leader will only lead for a 'transitional period,' meaning for the next one year.

“Thousands of Hamas members have voted in favor of selecting the Council and the political bureau,” the source said without specifying how the voting was conducted.

The source stated, “The primary goal of this process is to renew internal legitimacy and fill the vacant leadership positions.”

The new leader will have to debate international calls led by the United States and Israel, and the demands of its armed wing fighting the Israeli army in Gaza.

However, Hamas has stated it will hand over its weapons to the Palestinian authority in Gaza under certain conditions.

Both Mashal and Hayya have years of experience in the Hamas movement.

Hayya, 65, a resident of Gaza and Hamas's chief negotiator in ceasefire talks, has held senior positions since 2006, according to the US non-governmental organization 'Counter Extremism Project (CEP)'.

Mashal, who led the Political Bureau from 2004 to 2017, has never lived in Gaza. He was born in the West Bank in 1956. He joined the Hamas movement in Kuwait and later resided in Jordan, Syria, and Qatar. CEP states, “He led the political-military development of Hamas.”

He is currently the head of Hamas's foreign office.

Last month, a Hamas source told AFP that Hayya has the support of the group's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.