Sinwar’s brother, Mohammad Sinwar, is expected to take on a larger role in directing Hamas’ military efforts within Gaza.
Hamas faces significant challenges in choosing its next leader, as it must weigh the influence of its primary backers, Iran and Qatar. The leading candidates to take over as politburo chief currently reside in Qatar, a Gulf state that has been deeply involved in mediating ceasefire negotiations.
Sinwar’s death, which occurred during a gunfight with Israeli forces on Wednesday, marks the second time in less than three months that Hamas has lost its top leader.
The previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Iran in July, allegedly by Israeli operatives.
When Yahya Sinwar succeeded Haniyeh, he unified the political and military wings of Hamas, but experts believe such consolidation of power is unlikely this time.
After enduring more than a year of intense Israeli bombardments that have decimated its ranks and leadership, Hamas is left to reorganize and strategize its future.
Khalil Al-Hayya, Sinwar’s deputy, is seen as a strong contender to take over.
On Friday, he declared that no Israeli hostages would be released until Israeli forces fully withdrew from Gaza and ended their military campaign.
Hamas’ top decision-making body, the Shura Council, is expected to name the new leader, with its influence extending to Gaza, the West Bank, Israeli prisons, and the Palestinian diaspora.
The leadership reshuffle also involves notifying key regional players, particularly Qatar, which has facilitated numerous rounds of ceasefire talks.
Other potential candidates for leadership include Khaled Meshaal, a former Hamas politburo chief, and Mohammad Darwish, a relatively obscure figure who chairs the Shura Council.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
