On Monday, a Hamas official clearly stated that the movement is expected to maintain the secrecy of its new leader's identity for security reasons. This approach is reminiscent of their response in 2003, when Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the then-Hamas chief, was assassinated by Israel, along with his successor, Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.
According to reports, the movement intends to elect a new leader in March of next year but until then it will be run by a five-member committee.
The committee will include Khalil al-Hayya, Khaled Meshaal, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Darwish, the head of the Shura Council, and a fifth member whose identity is still unknown.
According to the official, Khalil al-Hayya has taken on responsibility for the majority of political and foreign affairs, in addition to directly overseeing matters related to Gaza. As a result, he is effectively serving as the acting leader of the movement.
While speaking on the death of their leader Sinwar, the official admitted that Hamas was caught off guard by the circumstances surrounding Yahya Sinwar's assassination last week, as they believed he was in a much more secure location at the time.
When discussing the issue of hostages, the official claimed that the movement has both the capacity and personnel to ensure their safety, although he did not share specific details.
He also pointed out that there have been very few negotiations since last June.
Furthermore, the official revealed that the Iranian foreign minister met with Khalil al-Hayya on Friday in Ankara, Turkey, to express condolences for Sinwar's martyrdom. He also noted that Iran anticipates an Israeli attack on Iran could happen a week or less before the U.S. elections.
Recall Niger Delta Connect reported that On Friday, October 18th, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, confirmed that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, just a day after Israel announced his death.
In a recorded video statement, Khalil al-Hayya, a Qatar-based Hamas official, mourned Sinwar, referring to him as “the great leader, the martyred brother, Yahya Sinwar, Abu Ibrahim.”
Following the October 7, 2023 attack, which was the deadliest in Israel's history, Sinwar became the most wanted man by Israel. Hayya stated that Hamas would not release the hostages taken during the attack until the conflict in Gaza comes to an end.
He emphasized that the hostages "will not return... unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops," while calling on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Hayya also asserted that Sinwar’s killing would only strengthen the group’s determination, placing him among the “leaders and symbols of the movement who preceded him.”
