Hamas is expected to name a new head of its political bureau by the end of the week, following the conclusion of internal electoral appeals, two officials within the movement told Al Manassa on condition of anonymity.
The appeals over several leadership positions within the movement’s Gaza Strip office delayed the selection of the new leader and three other political bureau members, one of the sources said. The vacancies were created by the killing of several of the movement’s leaders during an Israeli offensive in October 2024, most notably the head of the political bureau, Yahya Sinwar.
The elections, postponed at least twice in January and February, are intended to cover a one-year term to complete the current cycle ending in March 2027. Results are scheduled for announcement this weekend.
The first source added that the movement completed voting midway through last week to select the head of its main political bureau and bureau members representing Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora. The vote was conducted using a secret method used by the movement’s 58-member Shura Council to avoid Israeli targeting.
The same source explained that the movement will announce the name of the head of the general political bureau by the end of this week. He noted that the competition has narrowed down to two names: Khalil Al-Hayya, head of the movement’s office in Gaza, and Khaled Mashaal, head of the movement’s office abroad.
A second source, confirmed the assessment, noting that Al-Hayya is currently seen as the frontrunner due to support from Hamas’s military wing and Gaza’s current dominance in the bureau’s decision-making.
The first source added that the Hamas leaders most likely to fill the three seats in Gaza’s political bureau are Bassem Naim, head of the political department; Ghazi Hamad, a member of the movement’s negotiating delegation; and Ali Al-Amoudi, the new deputy head of the movement’s political bureau in Gaza.
The second source added that Al-Amoudi, who previously served as Sinwar’s office director and was among the prisoners freed in the 2011 Gilad Shalit exchange, has been appointed deputy head of Hamas’s Gaza office. His promotion followed the resolution of appeals that confirmed Al-Hayya as president of the Gaza office, a role he had held in an acting capacity since Sinwar’s death in October 2024.
The second source believes that Al-Amoudi will become leader of Hamas’ Gaza office should Al-Hayya be chosen as the head of the general political bureau, while the first source added that if Al-Hayya is selected as the general leader, a new head for the movement’s negotiating delegation will be chosen to succeed him.
