Gaza outgoing Premier Ismail Haniyeh Gaza – Mohammad Habib Informed Palestinian sources stated Gaza outgoing Premier Ismail Haniyeh will run for the position of head of Hamas political bureau in the upcoming party elections, replacing Khalid Meshaal who, according to sources in Hamas, announced that he has no intention to run for the position again.
Haniyeh's recent international tour, which included Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, in addition to an anticipated tour to Qatar, Bahrain, and Iran, intends to raise his profile among leaders in the region before elections, Italian news agency AKI reported, quoting Hamas sources.
Haniyeh will stand against current Hamas deputy politburo chief Mousa Abu Marzouq, who enjoys the support of several Hamas leaders including Mahmoud Zahar, AKI said, adding that elections are expected in mid-2012. Internal elections in the Hamas movement are shrouded in secrecy, and only candidates living in exile are named, it noted.
Sources added that if Haniyeh wins the post, the movement’s central leadership will be fully shifted from the Syrian capital Damascus to inside Palestine.