Hamas, clash between leaders for Haniyeh’s succession. Sinwar’s veto –

Hamas said it has begun consultations to appoint a new political leader following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday. The process involves the political bureau and the Shura Council, which comprises elected officials from among the Palestinian group’s members and is divided into four sections (Gaza, West Bank, diaspora and prisoners in Israeli jails). According to experts, two are the favorites to succeed Haniyeh: Khaled Mashaal, a founding member of the Hamas politburo who led the group between 2004 and 2017, and Khalil al-Hayya, a powerful figure within the organization who was close to the slain leader and has been number two in Gaza since 2017.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is opposed to the appointment of Khaled Meshaal as Haniyeh’s successor. Sinwar would prefer someone with stronger ties to Iran and Syria. Meshaal was Haniyeh’s predecessor as head of Hamas’s political bureau from 1996 to 2017. Al-Hayya, a member of the political bureau, is said to be the one Sinwar supports. Hamas’s Shura Council elects the Politburo every four years.