Meshal Loses Control of Hamas Military Wing as Authority Moves to Gaza Leadership
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- Published on Wednesday, 02 May 2012 11:09
PNN
On Wednesday, 2nd May, Qatari-based Hamas political bureau head Khadel Meshal is expected to keep his post in an upcoming internal vote, but lose control of Hamas' finances. This will entail losing control of Hamas' Gaza-based military wing, Iz al-Din al-Qassam.
The control of Hamas' finances and military activities will switch to the increasingly influential Gaza-based leadership.
Haaretz reported – and senior officials confirmed – that Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh won a secret Hamas election to the organisation's political and decision-making council (the politburo and the Shura Council). This leaves him as the effective head of the movement in Gaza. Hamas denies Haaretz's claims.
These changes appear to be part of a wider reorganisation of Hamas following the leadership's decision to leave Syria due to the unrest there.
With members of the Hamas leadership currently scattered around the region, Gaza has become the movement's main decision-making centre. Gaza is also where Hamas makes most of its revenue and where most of its militants reside.
Since the Hamas leadership in Gaza rejected the "Doha agreement", Meshal's position has declined rapidly.
All this happens as Hamas continues to become increasingly unpopular in the West Bank, having lost several institutional elections there recently.
