Hamas elects new Gaza leadership in secret vote as internal factions debate future

Hamas has elected a new leader in Gaza through a secret electoral process, according to a report by The National.

The organization also moved to fill several vacancies within its political bureau, which has suffered heavy losses during the ongoing conflict.

Two officials close to Hamas and sources in Cairo confirmed that the elections took place last week. The process was reportedly conducted via secure communication lines and face-to-face meetings involving Hamas leaders based in Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar.

Names will not be announced until the start of the second phase

Officials stated that the identities of those elected will not be disclosed to the public for security reasons until the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is implemented.

“The elections were held last week, and the vacancies in the political bureau—approximately two-thirds of which were lost—have been filled. A new individual has been appointed to lead the movement in Gaza,” said a Hamas official based in Lebanon.

The official emphasized that these names will remain confidential until the second stage of the agreement begins.

Hamas entered a protracted war with Israel following the October 7, 2023, “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation. Since then, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 Palestinians and the destruction of much of the territory. During the conflict, thousands of Hamas members have been killed, alongside the movement’s former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran, and Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in combat.

Trump expected to announce details of the second phase

Under the mediation of US President Donald Trump, the first phase of a ceasefire reached last October saw Hamas hand over surviving Israeli captives and the remains of those who died in Gaza. Reports indicate that one body has yet to be recovered.

The second phase of the agreement envisions the governance and reconstruction of Gaza, alongside an Israeli withdrawal from the territory. This stage also mandates the disarmament of Hamas.

According to sources, President Trump is expected to announce the specific details of this second phase later this month, presenting the plan to a “peace board” and a committee of Palestinian technocrats designated to govern Gaza.

The only way to protect political figures

“Israel will not be informed of these names until the second phase begins. This is the only way to prevent our political figures from being targeted,” a Hamas official explained. He added, “The internal structure has been reorganized. Despite losing two-thirds of our political bureau, our presence on the ground remains steadfast.”

According to its charter, Hamas conducts leadership elections every four years. The last formal elections were held in 2021.

Disagreement between moderate and hawk factions

The Israeli government remains reluctant to proceed to the second phase of the agreement or withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed and has relinquished its authority.

For its part, Hamas has expressed a willingness to hand over governance but demands that its weaponry remain under the supervision of Arab nations.

Sources in Cairo suggest that the elections highlighted a rift between the “moderate” and “hawk” factions within Hamas.

The moderate wing, led by Khaled Meshal, advocates for Hamas to rapidly transition into a traditional political party. Conversely, the hawk faction, led by Khalil al-Hayya and closely identified with the October 7 attacks, aims to preserve Hamas as an armed resistance movement, even as it accepts the Trump plan.