Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, held leadership elections on Tuesday, a race with deep implications for its relations with Israel and other regional players, as well as upcoming Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections.
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Various reports coming from Gaza said that Hamas military leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar had lost the elections to hardliner Nizar Awadallah.
Lebanon's Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen said that the race was "extremely close."
In the three rounds between five candidates, Sinwar lost to Awadallah in the first round by a mere seven votes, but bested him in the second and third votes. As neither has received over 50% of the votes, a fourth round will be held.
Al-Mayadeen noted that in the absence of a clear winner in the fourth vote, whoever garners the most votes will be declared the victor. The results are expected on Thursday.
Sinwar is a former top member of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. He was jailed in Israel for over 20 years over his terrorist activities and was released in the 2011 Schalit prisoner exchange.
Awadallah, 64, has been a member of Hamas' politburo since 2009. The former head of the Majlis al-Shura – Hamas' Advisory Council – Awadallah was a confidant to Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. In 1989 he was imprisoned for six years by Israel due to his terrorist activity.
He was also key in negotiating the 2011 prisoner exchange deal, which saw the release of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for IDF captive Cpl. Gilad Schalit.
Awadallah is also considered a close associate of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and is believed to have close ties to the Iranian regime.
A senior Hamas source told Israel Hayom that Sinwar was "furious with Awadallah's people for leaking that he had won the elections. The move was not coordinated with Hamas leadership. Awadallah is using his position as a politburo member to call the elections in his favor."
The Hamas leadership race comes ahead of Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled in May and July. It was not immediately clear what effect it would have.
Tuesday's election also could have deep repercussions on Hamas' dealings with Israel as well as other regional powers.
The terrorist group is divided into rival camps. One is loyal to Israel's archenemy Iran and favors continued military confrontations with the Jewish state, and the other camp, backed by regional players Turkey and Qatar, favors a more pragmatic approach in hopes of easing the blockade.
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The Gaza election is part of a broader process of choosing the group's politburo, or central decision making body. That process began in February and is expected to wrap up by the end of the month.
Shahar Klaiman and Dean Shmuel Elmas contrinuted to this report
