Hamas holds vote to choose new interim leader, source tells BBC
BBC World
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Hamas is holding elections for a new interim leader in response to the loss of most of its senior leadership due to Israeli strikes following the group's October 2023 attacks on Israel. Voting is taking place across Gaza, the West Bank, and among Hamas members globally. The outcome could shape the movement’s future direction as US-mediated peace talks continue over Gaza’s governance and reconstruction.
The election comes after a series of devastating blows to Hamas, including the deaths of key figures like Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif in 2024. These losses have weakened the group’s military and political structures. The interim leadership is currently led by an internal committee headed by Mohammad Darwish, who was killed earlier this year.
The race primarily features Khalil al-Hayya, who leads Hamas in Gaza and aligns with Sinwar and Haniyeh's pragmatic wing, and Khaled Meshaal, a veteran leader based in Qatar. Meshaal represents the movement’s more moderate, Brotherhood-linked faction, while al-Hayya is seen as closer to Iran-aligned hardliners.
The war has deepened internal divisions within Hamas, which long grappled with a rivalry between pragmatic elements, often associated with Meshaal, and more ideological factions tied to Sinwar and Gaza-based leaders. This divide could influence whether the new leader prioritizes cooperation or confrontation
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/20/2026