By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
"Strategic Decisions and Power Shifts in Gaza's Leadership"
Over the past week, under the watchful eyes of the global media, Hamas's top leaders convened in Qatar to select a new political leader for the group. Delegates from across the Middle East gathered following nearly a year of intense conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Many arrived still reeling from the news that the group’s previous political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had been killed in a blast in Tehran, allegedly by Israel. Haniyeh, who played a crucial role in balancing the militant wing's aggressive stance with calls for a possible settlement, left a significant leadership void that needed to be filled urgently.
At the mourning ceremony in Doha, Hamas leaders stood together in a large white tent adorned with carpets, luxurious chairs, and images of Ismail Haniyeh. The gathering, more than just a memorial service, marked the end of an era and the beginning of a potentially more extreme phase for the organization. This was not the first time that Hamas's leadership had to regroup after an unexpected funeral; in 2004, I witnessed a similar meeting following the assassination of the group’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, by Israel.
However, this time, the internal discussions highlighted the gravity of the crisis and the challenges facing Hamas. On October 7 of the previous year, Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages to Gaza. Israel's military retaliation has since claimed over 39,600 lives, according to Hamas's health ministry, with tens of thousands more wounded. The destruction in Gaza has displaced nearly the entire population, and dissent against Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007, has been growing. The group itself has suffered significant losses, compounded by the killing of Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in what was believed to be a safe haven in Tehran.
Hamas is convinced that Haniyeh was killed by an anti personnel missile while using his phone, with Iran's Revolutionary Guards suggesting a projectile with a 7kg warhead was used. Some Western media reports, however, claim he was killed by a bomb planted in the room beforehand.
As the mourning ceremony in Doha concluded, the real work began. For two days, Hamas’s senior figures and influential operatives held meetings in Doha, which has housed the group’s political bureau since 2012, to elect a new leader. Yahya Sinwar, already the group's leader in Gaza since 2017, was chosen as the new political leader. While this choice may surprise some, those familiar with his career since his release in a 2011 prisoner exchange with Israel knew he was a strong contender for leadership.
Sinwar, closely connected to Hamas's military wing, planned and executed the October 7 attack on Israel, making him a top target for Israeli security forces. Despite concerns within Hamas's leadership and pressure from Arab and Western officials against his appointment due to his role in the attack, Sinwar was ultimately chosen because of his significant popularity in the Arab and Islamic worlds and his connections with the Iran backed "axis of resistance."
Currently, ceasefire negotiations led by Qatar and Egypt are ongoing, but no agreement has been reached. The proposal under discussion reportedly involves convincing Iran to refrain from a military response to Haniyeh’s assassination in exchange for Israel halting its military campaign in Gaza and withdrawing troops from the Philadelphi Corridor. For now, with Sinwar at the helm, the prospect of peace remains uncertain as conflict in the region continues to escalate.
