According to Asharq, Hayya is expected to win due to his popularity in the Gaza Strip and involvement in Hamas operations in the West Bank.
Hamas is planning to hold internal elections to choose its new political bureau head, the Saudi Arabia-based channel Asharq News reported on Saturday.
The election, which was originally set to be held earlier this year, was ordered by a leadership council that was established after the deaths of Hamas’s previous political bureau chiefs Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, who was the mastermind behind Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
Asharq News reported that the decision to hold the election, which will result in the dissolution of the transitional leadership council, was forced by “the appearance of contradictory opinions among the members of the council” regarding Hamas’s future in Gaza and ties with regional allies.
Hamas’s Shura Council, made up of approximately 50 individuals representing the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and global Hamas operations, has begun preparations for the election, the Saudi news channel said, adding that the vote will occur within the next few days or weeks.
Candidates disagree on Hamas strategy, Iran ties
The two candidates up for the position are Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Mashaal. According to Asharq, Hayya is expected to win due to his popularity in the Gaza Strip and involvement in Hamas operations in the West Bank.
Hayya’s platform is based on maintaining the current status quo of Hamas’s strategy, which includes “armed confrontation with Israel in the Gaza Strip until the war ends and the Israeli army completely withdraws,” the news agency said.
In contrast, Mashaal is reportedly leaning toward a path based on trying to distance Hamas from Iranian influence, strengthening ties with more moderate Arab nations, and continuing to participate in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Gaza.
Hayya and Mashaal were two of the three Hamas terror leaders targeted by an unsuccessful Israeli assassination attempt in Doha in early September.
latest_posts
- 1
Portugal among EU countries with the most people working close to 50 hours a week - 2Coalition led by Iraqi PM al-Sudani wins parliamentary elections
- 3The most effective method to Integrate Compact disc Rates into Your Retirement Arranging
- 4Old food pyramid vs. RFK Jr.'s new food pyramid. See what's different.
- 5College students are now slightly less likely to experience severe depression, research shows – but the mental health crisis is far from over
- Kuwait is softening stance on Israel, dissident tells ‘Post’ after viral UN speech
- Fascinating Fishing Objections From Around The World
- Palestinians reel under winter rains as Israel blocks Gaza shelter supplies
- British Columbia's Secret Lakeside Town With Hot Springs Is 'An Oasis Of Arts, Culture And Relaxation'
- Figure out How to Really focus on Your Dental Inserts for Durable Outcomes
- Israel says it will keep control over part of southern Lebanon after war with Hezbollah ends
- Russia patents space station designed to generate artificial gravity
- It Shouldn’t Be Here: Rescuers Race to Save Whale Stranded in Rare Spot
- Explosions heard across Tehran after IDF announces wave of strikes on regime terror targets
