Khaled Meshaal: Leading contender for top Hamas position after Sinwar’s death
Khaled Meshaal in a meeting with Spanish journalists, 2009. (Photo via Wikimedia)
The potential death of Yahya Sinwar, the newly appointed leader of Hamas, following reports of bodies discovered in a bombed building, raises significant questions regarding the future leadership of the organization and the ongoing conflict with Israel.
With Israeli authorities investigating the situation, the loss of Sinwar, known as Abu Ibrahim, would be a substantial strategic blow to Hamas. As the conflict escalates, analysts suggest that if Sinwar is indeed deceased, Khaled Meshaal could emerge as a strong candidate for leadership, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a complex history within the movement.
Israeli military sources have reported finding three bodies in a building they bombed, one of which might belong to Sinwar. Israeli authorities have stated they are investigating the situation.
Targeted leader
Sinwar has long been a target for Israeli forces, accused of being a key architect behind the violence that erupted on October 7, 2023. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz emphasized on social media that Sinwar’s recent appointment provided another “critical reason” for his removal.
General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), confirmed that the search for Sinwar would continue regardless of any name changes or attempts to alter his public image.
Reactions, speculations
The announcement of Sinwar’s appointment caught many Israelis by surprise. Hanan, a company manager who chose not to disclose his last name, expressed disbelief that Hamas would not seek a less radical, less violent leader following Haniyeh’s death.
Political science professor Hassan Ayoub from An-Najah National University stated: “Sinwar was chosen for pragmatic reasons,” indicating that Israel could target any Hamas leader living outside Gaza, but Sinwar’s presence in the region made him more vulnerable.
Since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, Sinwar has made no public appearances, leaving the leadership of Hamas in a state of uncertainty.
Future leadership of Hamas
The death of Sinwar would open the door for new leadership within Hamas. Analysts previously suggested that Sinwar would play a crucial role in selecting his successor following Haniyeh’s assassination.
His name had not been prominently discussed as a potential leader at that time, and some experts speculated that his leadership could be temporary, with another candidate taking over after the conflict.
Hamas typically holds elections every four years, during which members of the Shura Council, composed of members from the Political Bureau, are chosen. This council is responsible for electing the bureau’s president and vice president.
Following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Meshaal was appointed as his successor.
Khaled Meshaal: Strong contender
If Sinwar has indeed been killed, Khaled Meshaal emerges as a strong candidate for leadership. Born in 1956 in the occupied West Bank, Khaled Meshaal joined the Muslim Brotherhood at the age of 15 and later became a founding member of Hamas’s political bureau when it was established in 1987.
His survival of an assassination attempt by Israel in 1997 brought him international recognition. The incident, which occurred in Jordan, escalated into a political crisis between Jordan and Israel, ultimately saving Meshaal’s life when King Hussein of Jordan demanded the antidote for the poison injected by Israeli agents.
Exile and return
Meshaal has spent much of his life outside Palestine, focusing on fundraising for Hamas. Following the assassination attempt, he was exiled to Qatar after Jordan shut down Hamas’s office in Amman. He also spent eight years in Syria before parting ways with the Assad regime due to its treatment of Sunni groups.
In December 2012, Meshaal made his first visit to Gaza, marking his return to Palestinian territories for the first time since he was 11 years old. However, he later clashed with other Hamas leaders over reconciliation efforts with Fatah, the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, leading to his departure from the role of head of Hamas’s Political Bureau.
