The Palestinian militant group Hamas is leaning toward appointing a ruling committee based in Doha rather than a single successor following the death of their chief, Yahya Sinwar.
Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces last week, a move that has spurred discussions within the group about its leadership moving forward.
According to sources within Hamas, the group has decided not to name a new leader until the next internal elections scheduled for March, provided circumstances allow.
“The leadership’s approach is to avoid appointing a direct successor to the late chief, the martyr Yahya Sinwar, until the elections,” a source from the group told AFP.
Instead, a five-member committee, formed in August after the assassination of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, will assume leadership responsibilities. This committee was initially created to address communication challenges with Sinwar in Gaza and has now taken over the group’s direction following his death.
Sinwar, who was appointed Gaza chief of Hamas in 2017, ascended to the top leadership role after Haniyeh’s assassination in July.
The committee, comprised of key representatives from Gaza, the West Bank, and the Palestinian diaspora, includes Khalil al-Hayya (Gaza), Zaher Jabarin (West Bank), and Khaled Meshaal (representing Palestinians abroad). Two other key members are Mohammed Darwish, head of Hamas’s Shura advisory council, and the political bureau’s secretary. All members of the committee are currently based in Qatar.
The committee has been tasked with governing Hamas during the ongoing conflict, making strategic decisions, and shaping the group’s future plans. “The committee will govern the movement during the war and exceptional circumstances, as well as its future trajectory,” the source said.
Another source revealed that there had been internal discussions about appointing a political chief whose identity would remain secret, but the leadership ultimately chose to proceed with collective rule through the committee.
Sinwar’s death came as Israeli forces intensified their military operations in Gaza. He was killed in southern Gaza, more than a year into the war that erupted after Hamas launched a major offensive on October 7.
The death of Yahya Sinwar has created a leadership vacuum within the Palestinian terrorist organization. Various reports speculated about potential candidates who could step into the role.