Hamas the Palestinian militant group‚ is on the hunt for a new political leader following Yahya Sinwars death. The group will probably pick someone based outside Gaza while Sinwars brother‚ Mohammad is expected to take on a bigger role in directing the war against Israel within the territory
The groups main backer‚ Iran and Qatar (where top candidates currently reside) will likely have a say in the decision. Sinwar‚ who planned the attack that started the Gaza war about a year ago was killed by Israeli forces a couple days back - the second time in roughly three months that Hamas has lost its top leader
Sinwars deputy Khalil Al-Hayya a potential successor said on friday that Israeli hostages wouldnt be returned until Israeli troops left Gaza and the war ended. Hamas has a history of quickly replacing fallen leaders‚ with its top decision-making body the Shura Council tasked with naming a new head
Besides Hayya‚ who is Hamas chief negotiator‚ the other main leadership contenders are:
- Khaled Meshaal‚ Haniyehs predecessor
- Mohammad Darwish‚ who chairs the Shura Council
Iran is Hamas strongest ally‚ which supports the group with money and weapons‚ and their blessing is key to who becomes Sinwars successor
He expected Hamas to stick by core demands in future ceasefire talks‚ chiefly that Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza and stop the war. But it could show more flexibility on some conditions such as the details of any deal swapping Israeli hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel
With Sinwar gone‚ the Hamas leadership for Gaza has temporarily passed to his Qatar-based deputy‚ Hayya. But the ongoing war and communication difficulties might impose limits on just how much day-to-day contact Hayya can have with men on the ground‚ leaving the armed wing - the Qassam Brigades - in the driving seat experts say
A Hamas source said Hayya was expected to encounter no problems exercising his role as “de facto Gaza leader“. The source noted that Hayya had maintained good relations with the military wing and had been close to both Sinwar and Haniyeh
Hamas-led gunmen killed 1‚200 people and abducted another 250 during the attack a year ago‚ according to Israeli tallies. This prompted an Israeli offensive which according to Palestinian authorities‚ has killed more than 42‚000 Palestinians laid waste to Gaza‚ and driven nearly all its population from their homes