Hamas Leadership Election Resumes with Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Meshaal as Main Candidates

The second round of elections for the head of Hamas's political bureau has resumed after weeks of delay caused by the assassinations of the group's military wing leaders, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades commander Ezzedine al-Haddad and his successor Mohammed Odeh. According to Saudi channel Al-Arabiya, the race has reached a decisive stage with Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Meshaal as the leading candidates. The first voting round ended without a clear winner.

Voting is taking place under strict secrecy and security in the Gaza Strip due to ongoing fighting and fears of Israeli attacks targeting senior Hamas figures involved in the process. Concurrent elections are also underway among Hamas leadership in the West Bank, with future voting planned for representatives in the Palestinian diaspora outside Gaza. Once all voting stages conclude, final results will be confirmed and an official announcement of the new political bureau chief will follow.

Following the killings of Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas is currently governed by a five-member leadership council including Khaled Meshaal, Khalil al-Hayya, Mohammed Darwish, Zaher Jabarin, and Nazar Awadallah, all reportedly outside Gaza. Meanwhile, political bureau member Ali al-Amoudi is leading Hamas activities inside Gaza, managing both political and military affairs after al-Haddad's death.