Hamas announces new leadership following death of Yahya Sinwar

Group has assigned leadership responsibilities to a five-member committee instead of appointing a single new leader

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Hamas has announced a new leadership structure following the death of its chief, Yahya Sinwar, in an Israeli airstrike on October 16.

The group has handed leadership duties to a five-member committee, taking a step back from appointing a single new leader.

The organisation has decided not to name a successor to Sinwar until its internal elections, scheduled for March 2025, if conditions allow.

Instead, the group will be governed by a committee, formed in August after the assassination of its political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, said a Hamas source.

The committee consists of key Hamas figures, including Khalil al-Hayya representing Gaza, Zaher Jabarin for the West Bank, and Khaled Meshaal for the Palestinian diaspora. It also includes Mohammed Darwish, head of Hamas' Shura council, and an unnamed secretary of the political bureau for security reasons. All members are currently based in Qatar.

Khalil al-Hayya, a veteran of the group, survived an Israeli airstrike in 2007 and is seen as less hard-line than Sinwar. Mashaal, who led Hamas from 1996 to 2017, is also a potential contender.

Meanwhile, the death of Sinwar, who controlled Hamas’ hostage negotiations, raises questions about the future of cease-fire talks and a potential prisoner exchange with Israel. Al-Hayya has so far maintained a firm position, stating that no hostages would be released without Israel withdrawing its forces from Gaza.

Hamas continues to operate in Gaza despite facing significant pressure, asserting that the deaths of previous leaders have only strengthened the group. Hamas members in Qatar stressed that Sinwar, like others, will be remembered as a martyr, continuing the legacy of resistance.

The committee will guide the group through the ongoing conflict and manage strategic decisions, the source added. "It has the authority to govern during the war and handle exceptional circumstances," they said.

Hamas had initially discussed appointing a political chief without publicising their name, but the leadership opted to maintain governance through the committee until the next elections.

Yahya Sinwar, who had been the Gaza chief of Hamas since 2017, was killed by Israeli forces amid escalating violence in the region.