Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Hamas to conceal identity of Sinwar’s Successor, five candidates considered

POSTED ON October 20, 2024 •   World      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
Yahya Sinwar in a file photo taken in Gaza on October 21, 2011 l Credit:AP

Hamas is set to keep the identity of its new political bureau chief secret after Israel assassinated Yehya Sinwar, the group’s Gaza leader, on Wednesday.

This follows the killing of former political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran less than three months ago.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas leaders are discussing the decision to hide the new leader’s name due to growing security risks.

“The leadership is likely to keep the identity confidential for safety reasons,” one source said.

The move is aimed at giving the new chief more freedom to operate and avoiding Israeli assassination attempts, which have targeted many of Hamas’ leaders.

The secrecy is also expected to help maintain internal order and protect the group’s structure.

Hamas wants to keep Israel uncertain about who will make decisions if talks resume on a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange in Gaza.

Since Friday, after officially announcing Sinwar’s death, Hamas leaders have been discussing who will replace him and whether to reveal their identity.

Sinwar was appointed about three months ago to send a defiant message to Israel and to show Hamas’ commitment to its “Al-Aqsa Flood” campaign.

His selection also aimed to reduce pressure on the group’s external leadership, which faces Israeli threats, political pressure from mediators, and calls for host countries to expel Hamas leaders.

Potential Successors:

Darwish, the ‘Shadow Man’

Several candidates are being considered to replace Sinwar, who faced no competition for Hamas’ political leadership after Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran on July 31.

The focus is now on Mohammad Darwish (Abu Omar Hassan), head of Hamas’ Shura Council. He was relatively unknown until gaining attention after Haniyeh’s death.

Many believe he has a strong chance, having appeared in recent official meetings ahead of some long-standing leaders.

A Hamas source said Darwish, once seen as the “shadow man,” is now taking on a more prominent role, receiving visitors and leading key activities.

Darwish spent much of his life abroad and was closely tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Hamas originally emerged. Hamas later revised its charter and distanced itself from the Brotherhood.

Khalil al-Hayya: Sinwar’s Deputy

Alongside Darwish, Khalil al-Hayya is seen as a key contender, believed to be Sinwar’s deputy. Al-Hayya became a leading figure in Gaza after Sinwar’s disappearance and assassination.

A veteran political leader in Gaza, al-Hayya became Sinwar’s deputy and a close ally. He now leads Hamas in Gaza and is in charge of ceasefire negotiations and a potential prisoner exchange.

Al-Hayya has represented the group on key occasions, including speeches marking the October 7 attack and mourning Sinwar, calling him “the leader of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle.”

He promised that Hamas would continue its fight for full Palestinian liberation and a state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Al-Hayya also stated that Israeli prisoners held by Hamas would not be released unless Israel halts its offensive on Gaza, withdraws, and frees Palestinian prisoners.

Known as a political hardliner, al-Hayya, like Sinwar, supports strong ties with Iran.

Khaled Meshaal: Closer to the Muslim Brotherhood than Iran

In addition to al-Hayya and Darwish, Khaled Meshaal, Mousa Abu Marzouk, and Mohammad Nazzal are also possible candidates to lead Hamas.

Meshaal led Hamas’ political bureau for about 21 years and now heads the group’s external branch.

After Haniyeh’s assassination, Meshaal reportedly declined the leadership role due to health reasons and the current situation. It is unclear if he will now step in after Sinwar's death.

Meshaal is widely known politically and is seen as more connected to the Muslim Brotherhood than to Iran.

Mohammad Nazzal: A Hardliner in Hamas

Mohammad Nazzal’s influence was evident in the recent elections.

Born and raised in Amman, Jordan, Nazzal is originally from the West Bank and studied in Kuwait. He joined Hamas at its founding and has been a member of the political bureau since 1996. Nazzal is regarded as one of the hardliners within the group.

Mousa Abu Marzouk: First Head of the Political Bureau

Mousa Abu Marzouk is another candidate for leadership. He co-founded Hamas in 1987 and was its first head of the political bureau.

He currently serves as the deputy head of Hamas’ external branch. Born in 1951 in the Rafah refugee camp, his family was displaced from a village near Ramla.

It is expected that the next Hamas leader will be chosen from among these candidates rather than from Gaza, especially given the communication breakdown with some leaders in the territory.

Hamas has a system for selecting successors for vacant positions.

Hiding the Identity of Hamas' Leader

Hamas began concealing the identity of its leader in 2004 after Israel assassinated founder Ahmed Yassin on March 22, followed by his successor, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, on April 17.

For a long time, Hamas did not disclose the name of its leader in Palestine to avoid Israeli targeting.

Sinwar was killed on October 17, a major setback for Hamas that came just three months after former political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.

Sinwar’s death has prompted Hamas to start extensive consultations to shape its future approach to the ongoing conflict and ceasefire negotiations.

This shift returned decision-making power to the external leadership after Gaza had been the focus.

Future decisions are likely to involve broader discussions, especially with the absence of influential historical leaders. While not indicating a collective leadership model like Hezbollah's in Lebanon, it suggests a move towards more inclusive consultation.

Since its founding in 1987, Hamas has had four leaders of the political bureau: Abu Marzouk (1992-1996), Meshaal (1996-2017), Haniyeh (2017 until his assassination), and Sinwar. A fifth leader is expected to be chosen soon.

READ ALSO
Tinubu lauds ECOWAS for regional integration, economic progress at golden jubilee
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for promoti...

READ ALSO
Trade Wars Take Center Stage at IM ,World Bank Spring Meetings
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 22, 2025 0

Global finance leaders are convening in Washington this week for the semi-annual meetings of the Int...

READ ALSO
Tinubu mourns Passing of Pope Francis: A Voice for the Voiceless
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 21, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his condolences alongside global leaders over the death of Mario...

READ ALSO
Timeless Legacies: Top 10 ancient civilizations that shaped the modern world
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 19, 2025 0

Ancient civilizations laid the foundation for modern society, contributing to everything from govern...

READ ALSO
WTO warns of global trade decline amid U.S. tariffs
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 17, 2025 0

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a warning that global trade could decrease this year a...

READ ALSO
Boosting Trade: Tinubu's commitment to regional integration with ECOWAS tariff signing
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 15, 2025 0

Reinforcing Nigeria's commitment to expanding regional trade, President Bola Tinubu signed the Econo...

READ ALSO
ECOWAS advocates for unified investment strategies to navigate global economic challenges
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 15, 2025 0

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged its member nations to enhance their...

READ ALSO
General Brice Secures 90% of Victory in Gabon's Presidential Election
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 14, 2025 0

General Brice Oligui Nguema, the military ruler of Gabon, has emerged victorious in Saturday’s...

OUR CHANNELS:

Father demands justice as Nigerian correctional service dismisses kidnapping allegations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - Ogunsinasi Oluwaseyi, the father of 12-year-old Oluwaseyi Favour, who was r...


Ogun shuts  four companies for environmental violations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 25, 2025 0

OGUN, Nigeria (NAN) - The Ogun state government, via its Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), ha...


IMF urges Nigeria to exercise fiscal caution amid economic reforms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Nigeria to exercise caution in its expenditures...


FG urges IMF, World Bank to bolster economic reforms in sub-saharan Africa
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

Finance Minister Wale Edun has emphasized the need for increased global assistance to reform economi...


LASG short 66,000 healthcare practitioners, threat to quality services delivery
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government is grappling with a significant shortage of medical prac...


Pope Francis to be buried April 26
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

Pope Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, the Vatican announced Tuesday, as world leade...


2face get appointment as technical adviser to Benue Govt.
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 25, 2025 0

The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia    has appointed music legend, Innocent Idibia...


Nigeria's Economic Reforms Boost Sovereign Credit Profile - IMF
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

The Assistant Director for Global Markets at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Jason Wu,  ...


Six dead in Okene Accident: Akpoti-Uduaghan Urges Immediate Road Safety Reforms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

KOGI, Nigeria - Following a tragic auto accident in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the loss of...


Plateau NBA expresses outrage over violence, urges FG to protect citizens
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

PLATEAU, Nigeria - Due to the assaults and homicides occurring in Plateau State by alleged Fulani mi...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu