Hamas politburo moves to elect new leader after delays

The political bureau of Hamas has resumed the process of selecting a new leader, even before completing the full formation of its membership, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Sources within the movement said the decision revives a leadership race that had been suspended at least twice in January and February, Caliber.Az reports.

According to one source inside Gaza, “conditions that had been hindering the elections have been resolved”, allowing the process to move forward.

Some of these obstacles were linked to internal organisational disputes, which have now been settled, along with consideration of external political factors, security concerns, and ongoing negotiations.

Hamas is facing what observers describe as its most severe crisis since its founding in 1987.

Israeli strikes launched in response to the October 7, 2023, attack have hit multiple branches of the organisation, leading to significant structural and financial challenges.

Preliminary assessments suggest that leading contenders include Khaled Meshaal, head of the politburo abroad, and Khalil al-Hayya, who heads the bureau in Gaza.

Sources and observers say al-Hayya is backed by Hamas members in Gaza and the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, while Meshaal enjoys stronger support in the West Bank and among the diaspora.

A source outside Gaza said voting will take place across all accessible regions—including Gaza, the West Bank, and abroad—depending on conditions, with a decision expected soon.

For about a year and a half, Hamas affairs have been managed by a leadership council.

Earlier this year, a new attempt was made to elect a leader for the remainder of the current politburo’s term, originally due to end in 2025 but extended by one year pending broader elections later this year or early next year.

A planned vote in mid-February was reportedly disrupted by the US-Israeli war against Iran.

The upcoming vote will be limited to selecting a new chairman of the politburo, who will lead Hamas both inside the Palestinian territories and abroad.

Full elections for the bureau are not expected before late this year or early 2027.

The current leadership council—comprising Hamas figures in Gaza, the West Bank, and abroad, along with the movement’s secretary-general—will transition into an advisory body overseeing internal and external affairs under the chairmanship of Mohammed Darwish.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov