In the wake of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hamas is embroiled in a significant internal conflict over the succession of its ruling politburo.
The dispute pits the terror group’s leaders based in Gaza against its leaders abroad and is drawing in Iran, Qatar, Turkey and the global leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The current power struggle pits Hamas’s Gaza leadership, led by Yahya Sinwar, against Hamas leaders outside Gaza and other Arab states. Reports indicate that Sinwar favors his deputy, Khalil al-Hayya, to take over the politburo. In contrast, Qatar, Turkey, and the Muslim Brotherhood are advocating for Meshaal. Hamas is the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestinian branch.
“Iran or Qatar do not have the authority to decide on the question of Ismail Haniyeh’s successor. Khaled Mashaal’s chances of winning the position are still very high,” a Hamas source told TPS-IL. Mashaal led Hamas’s politburo until 2017, when Haniyeh was chosen to succeed him.