CAIRO: Khaled Meshaal, a prominent figure in Hamas, is tipped to assume the leadership role of the Palestinian resistance movement following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier on Wednesday.
Meshaal, a veteran leader known for his long-standing role in the Palestinian cause, has been recognized for his leadership and strategic role within the movement, particularly since a failed assassination attempt by Israel in 1997.
On Wednesday, Hamas sources confirmed that Khaled Meshaal is expected to replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran. The strike on Haniyeh, which Iran and Hamas have vowed to retaliate against, has further escalated tensions in the region.
Meshaal, 68, has been a central figure in Hamas since the late 1990s, although he has spent much of his leadership in exile due to threats and Israeli operations targeting the Palestinian resistance group leaders.
The assassination of Haniyeh, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, has intensified the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The attack has resulted in strong condemnation from Iran, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing “harsh punishment” for Israel. Khamenei has denounced the assassination as a “flagrant violation of international law,” pledging severe repercussions for the Israeli state.
Khaled Meshaal, who has been in the political leadership of Hamas since before the 1997 assassination attempt, is seen as a figure with significant experience in international diplomacy and organizational strategy.
Meshaal’s leadership is expected to be marked by a continued focus on Palestinian resistance against Israel, although he has previously indicated a willingness to accept a temporary peace solution involving a Palestinian state within the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem as part of a long-term ceasefire.
For Palestinian supporters, Meshaal and the rest of the Hamas leadership are fighters for liberation from Israeli occupation, keeping their cause alive when international diplomacy has failed them.
Hamas sources said Khaled Meshaal is expected to be chosen as the paramount leader of the group to replace Ismail Haniyeh.
