Sources told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-awsat on Saturday that Hamas is inclined to choose Khalil al-Hayya, Yahya Sinwar's deputy, as the next head of its general Political Bureau.
The sources indicated that the organization would select al-Hayya "if conditions allow for the selection of a new personality to lead the bureau." Other potential candidates discussed since Sinwar's elimination include Khaled Mashal, the former bureau chief, and Mohammed Ismail Darwish, head of the advisory Shura Council, who previously competed against Sinwar for the terror organization's leadership.
Following the elimination of former bureau chiefs Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, the terror organization operates under a "joint leadership." According to foreign reports, this leadership comprises a council of five senior officials: Mashal as head of overseas operations, Khalil al-Hayya as head of the Gaza bureau, Mohammed Ismail Darwish as head of the Shura Council, Zaher Jabarin as head of the West Bank division, and Nizar Awadallah, a member of the Political Bureau in Gaza. Most of them are currently abroad.
Last month, Arab media reported that Hamas discussed concealing the identity of its next bureau chief, apparently due to "security challenges imposed on Hamas." Sources emphasized that this measure would provide the new senior official with operational flexibility and complicate Israel's efforts to eliminate the terror organization's leadership. They claimed, "This step will enable smoother operations and maintain order and cohesion within Hamas."
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas source told Asharq Al-awsat that the terror organization has not received any request from Qatar to leave Doha. However, he said they learned of an American request on the matter. According to him, Hamas became aware of the American request and increasing pressure for its removal from Qatar, but the Qatari government has not asked anything of the terror organization's leaders. "This has happened several times before," the source said, "it appears to be a form of American pressure to force Hamas to make concessions in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations."
