Hamas is reportedly moving closer to selecting a new leader, with an internal vote expected to take place in the coming days across several Middle Eastern capitals as senior figures within the terror organization compete for control.

According to a report in the Arab newspaper Rai Al-Youm, Hamas is expected to hold an internal leadership election before mid-June to determine who will lead the organization during a critical period following nearly two years of war with Israel.

The two leading contenders are Khaled Mashal, who currently heads Hamas’s overseas leadership, and Khalil al-Hayya, the senior Hamas official responsible for Gaza-related affairs and negotiations.

Arab and regional sources told the newspaper that Mashal’s appointment would likely be welcomed by several key countries in the region, particularly Qatar, which has long hosted senior Hamas leaders.

The report further claims that Mashal is viewed by regional powers as someone capable of advancing Hamas’s interests and navigating diplomatic channels with neighboring countries. Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt are all said to prefer a leader who can engage in dialogue with regional governments while managing the organization’s political and strategic challenges.

The anticipated vote comes as Hamas continues to face intense military pressure in Gaza and mounting questions regarding its future leadership structure following the deaths of several senior officials during the war.

Whoever emerges victorious will inherit a weakened but still influential terror organization seeking to rebuild its leadership and maintain its position in the Palestinian arena.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)