Hamas failed to elect a new political leader, the terror group announced on Saturday night, promising another round of elections would soon take place.
The current race will likely position either Hamas leader abroad, Khaled Mashaal, or senior Hamas politician Khalil al-Hayya as Hamas’s new leader.
The failed process comes as Hamas attempts to reassemble some level of order after much of its senior leadership was assassinated during the most recent war with Israel. Since former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in October 2024, there has been no permanent head of the organization’s political wing.
Israeli assassinations forced restructure
Hamas media advisor Taher al-Nunu told Al Jazeera that Israeli assassinations had forced the group to restructure, and relevant vacancies would be filled according to the "consultative mechanism and silent elections.”
"The nature of elections within Hamas is not based on individual candidacy, but rather all members of the council concerned are considered candidates, while the final decision rests with the will of the voters," he said, adding that multiple leadership positions have already been decided and will soon be announced by the relevant persons.
Hayya, based in Qatar, was responsible for negotiating a ceasefire and hostage releases after the terror group’s October 7, 2023, invasion, which launched the territory into the two-year war. He was also reported to have had a close relationship with Sinwar. Having lost multiple of his sons in the recent war, Arab supporters consider him a favorite.
Mashaal, born in the West Bank, is considered the less hawkish option as he is reportedly more willing to work with the Palestinian Authority.