According to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat on April 4, Israeli assassinations of senior Hamas leaders since the start of the war have significantly disrupted the group’s leadership structure and decision-making process.
Hamas is facing major challenges in restoring its leadership after losing key figures in its political, military, and administrative wings — both within Gaza and abroad.
During a temporary ceasefire, Hamas attempted to rebuild its internal leadership by appointing new officials. There were growing calls to formally appoint Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was eliminated by the IDF in Rafah in October 2024. Al-Hayya, based in Qatar and active in regional diplomacy, tried coordinating with Gaza-based leaders, but many — including senior political bureau members — were killed in renewed Israeli airstrikes.
The assassinations left Hamas struggling to manage internal affairs. Hamas sources told the newspaper that due to ongoing Israeli operations, the group delayed civil servant salaries, while fighters and political staff only received partial pay during Eid al-Fitr (up to 60%). The chaos stems from leadership gaps and intense Israeli intelligence surveillance targeting those managing finances and operations inside Gaza.
