Hamas Rebuilds Leadership Amidst Gaza War, Internal Elections Completed
Despite the ongoing war and extensive targeted killings of its leaders, Hamas has reportedly completed a round of internal elections under a heavy veil of secrecy. The elections encompassed its three main districts: Gaza, the West Bank, and its international branches, according to Dr. Michael Barak, a researcher at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University.
“Shadow” Leadership in Gaza
Due to the high risk of assassinations, Hamas has not publicly announced the names of its new leaders within the Gaza Strip. However, Ali al-Amoudi, a close associate of Yahya Sinwar who has survived multiple assassination attempts, has emerged as the figure expected to manage the organization’s operations inside Gaza.
Rebuilding the Political Bureau
With a significant number of its leadership figures killed – including Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Mushtaha – Hamas is establishing a new “General Political Bureau” comprised of 18 members. This bureau will be responsible for leading the organization over the next four years. The competition for the position of head of the Political Bureau, replacing both Haniyeh and Sinwar, has reportedly narrowed to two primary contenders: Khalil al-Hayya, representing the Iranian axis, and Khaled Mashal, representing the external leadership.
Gaza Representatives from Abroad
Following the deaths of many Political Bureau members based in Gaza, the representation of the Strip within the General Political Bureau is likely to be filled by senior Gaza officials currently residing overseas. Basem Naim and Ghazi Hamad, both based outside of Gaza, are expected to fill these roles.
Hamas is attempting to project an image of continuity and resilience despite the significant losses it has sustained. However, this is being achieved through a shift towards covert operations. Operational control on the ground is being transferred to anonymous “shadow” commanders, while the public-facing representation of the Strip is increasingly centered in Qatar. This move suggests a strategic adaptation to the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and the targeting of its leadership.
The internal elections come as Hamas faces an uncertain future, with international powers and Israel pushing for its disarmament and exclusion from any future governance role in Gaza. The organization also oversees a territory devastated by years of conflict, where more than two million residents are facing severe humanitarian conditions, and Israeli troops remain deployed in approximately half of the Strip. According to reports from earlier this year, Hamas is preparing for these internal elections despite these challenges, with a vote expected to take place “in the first months of 2026” where conditions allow.
The new leadership structure will include a 50-member Shura Council, a consultative body largely composed of religious figures. Members of this council are selected every four years by Hamas’s three branches: the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the movement’s external leadership. Hamas prisoners held in Israeli prisons are also eligible to participate in the voting process.
The ongoing leadership renewal process underscores Hamas’s determination to maintain its organizational structure and continue its activities despite the significant pressures it faces. The shift towards a more covert operational model and the increasing prominence of external leadership suggest a strategic adaptation to the evolving circumstances in Gaza and the wider region.
