Hamas's Khalil al-Hayya during an interview in Istanbul, April 24, 2024. (AP/ Khalil Hamra, File)
Hamas is expected to elect a new leader within days or a few weeks, Saudi outlet Asharq reported Saturday, citing sources close to the Palestinian terror group's leadership.
However, the same sources also reportedly "ruled out holding general elections before the war comes to a complete end."
The two main candidates are reportedly former Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal and current Gaza politburo chief Khalil al-Hayya.
Their main immediate policy difference relates to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, according to the sources. Hayya, who is seen as close to Iran, is said to support the continuation of "armed conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip until the war ends and the Israeli army withdraws from the Strip entirely," while Mashaal, who is seen as closer to Qatar, is said to seek "negotiated compromises to end the occupation of Gaza."
Mashaal also reportedly supports "trying to move Hamas away from Iran" and "closer to the moderate Arab states," the sources told Asharq.
The sources cited by Asharq said Hayya will likely win, as he enjoys the support of Hamas leaders in both Gaza and the West Bank, including West Bank politburo chief Zaher Jabarin.
According to Asharq, the electing body is Hamas's general Shura council, which comprises some 50 members representing Hamas's three regional politburos -- Gaza, the West Bank and the Palestinian diaspora.
Hamas elects a new leader every four years, the report noted. The last elections took place in March 2021, and the current ones were scheduled to take place in early 2025, but were pushed off due to the war in Gaza.
The leader elected in 2021, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated by Israel in Tehran in July 2024. His successor, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli troops in Rafah in October that year.
Since then, according to Asharq, Hamas has been led by a provisional leadership council that is headed by the general Shura council chief Muhammad Ismail Darwish and also includes Hayya, Mashaal, Jabarin and Gaza politburo member Nizar Awadallah.
Asharq cited observers close to Hamas as saying its resolve to hold elections now is a result of both the ceasefire with Israel and disagreement within the provisional leadership council about issues including "the fate of the movement's rule in Gaza and regional alliances."
Under US President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan, Hamas is required to cede control of Gaza to international forces. However, Hamas leaders, including Hayya and Mashaal, have called for the international forces to serve only as a buffer between Israel and Gaza.