The two Hamas leaders running for the top position are Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Mashaal, with Hayya in the lead. By Vered Weiss, World Israel NewsHamas is moving toward a leadership vote that is expected to end its interim governing arrangement and determine who will lead the organization’s political bureau, according to a report by Asharq News.The decision follows months of internal debate after the assassinations of two senior figures who previously held the post, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar.Sinwar was the mastermind behind Hamas’s October 7 massacre. In the aftermath, Hamas established a temporary leadership council to manage political affairs, but that body is now set to be dissolved once a new bureau chief is selected.Asharq News reported that the push to hold elections was driven by mounting internal disagreements. The outlet cited “the appearance of contradictory opinions among the members of the council” on key questions, including Hamas’s future in Gaza and the nature of its relationships with regional partners. The vote had originally been planned for earlier this year.Preparations for the election are being overseen by Hamas’s Shura Council, which includes around 50 representatives from Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and Hamas operations abroad.According to the report, voting could take place within days or weeks, depending on logistical arrangements and internal coordination.Two senior Hamas figures are expected to compete for the role. One is Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s chief negotiator, who is described as enjoying strong support in Gaza and close involvement in Hamas activity in Judea and Samaria. The second is Khaled Mashaal, a longtime leader with extensive regional ties.The candidates are said to represent contrasting strategic approaches. Al-Hayya’s position is described as favoring continuity, including “armed confrontation with Israel in the Gaza Strip until the war ends and the Israeli army completely withdraws,” according to the report.Mashaal, by contrast, is portrayed as advocating a recalibration, including efforts to reduce Hamas’s reliance on Iran, improve relations with more moderate Arab states, and remain engaged in ceasefire negotiations involving Gaza.Asharq News also reported that al-Hayya and Mashaal were among three senior Hamas leaders targeted in an unsuccessful Israeli assassination attempt in Doha earlier this year.The outcome of the vote is expected to shape Hamas’s leadership direction and strategic posture as fighting continues in Gaza and regional actors press for an end to the conflict.The post Hamas holding elections for new leadership with al-Hayya in the lead appeared first on World Israel News.