Hamas Shifts Leadership Base From Qatar to Turkey Amid Internal Elections

The Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported that Hamas has recently relocated a significant part of its leadership center from Qatar to Turkey. This move was highlighted by the decision to hold internal elections for the head of the political bureau in Istanbul in May, which ended without a clear winner. The election process is expected to continue in Istanbul after voting concludes in Gaza and the West Bank.

According to Hamas sources, the Istanbul round included senior members from the political bureau and the Shura Council, and most of the organization's top officials have been residing in Turkey for an extended period, even though some of their families remain in Qatar. All meetings, including those concerning ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and internal organizational matters, are now conducted in Turkey.

When asked if the shift to Turkey was due to security concerns or disputes with Qatar, a senior Hamas official denied any conflict with Qatar. Instead, he explained the move was partly to ease Qatar's embarrassment amid American pressure, reportedly backed by Israel, to expel Hamas leaders. This development reflects a strategic repositioning of Hamas's leadership amid regional diplomatic pressures.

Separately, the report mentioned an unusual request by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to then-US President Donald Trump, as covered by other Israeli news sources.