Hamas has undergone a series of leadership changes in the Gaza Strip following the assassination of several senior figures during the two-year Israeli war, increasing the influence of individuals close to the movement’s former leader, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in clashes with the Israeli army in Rafah in October 2024.
According to Hamas sources, freed prisoner Ali al-Amoudi, a member of the political bureau and former head of the movement’s media department, has assumed the role of acting head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza.
Al-Amoudi was tasked, along with several figures close to Sinwar, with managing the movement’s affairs in the Palestinian enclave, most of whom are based in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Al-Amoudi, who was released as part of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal in 2011, has become the central figure in managing the impoverished territory. He was among those very close to Sinwar during their imprisonment in Israeli jails and after their release, accompanying him frequently to meetings and events.
Several sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that no elections took place for the political bureau. Rather, the process was carried out through appointment and consultation.
While some sources said the process took place “by circumventing by-laws,” others explained that the aim was “to fill internal gaps,” saying “all those chosen - such as Tawfiq Abu Naim, Salah Abu Sharkh - are close to Sinwar.”
The sources say that al-Amoudi is currently leading what can be described as a “revolution” within Hamas in Gaza. He has moved to replace some local leaders, especially officials of regional administrative bodies who were wounded in Israeli attacks.
Yet, he is still seeking to appoint replacements for former leaders who were assassinated, removed from their posts, or transferred to other positions.
According to some sources, his policies have angered local Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, as well as leaders abroad.
Members of the political bureau outside the territory reportedly informed local leaders that what happened “violates internal regulations, and that it is necessary to wait for the election of the movement’s head in the coming days, so that agreement can be reached on temporarily filling vacancies within the leadership of some regions until general elections are held after a year.”
The sources said that the “state of chaos” prevailing at the political level within Hamas in the Gaza Strip contrasts with a state of stability within the military wing, which continues to reorganize systematically.
They explained that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the new leader of al-Qassam Brigades, is holding a series of meetings to appoint leaders who would replace figures assassinated or killed during the war.
According to the sources, al-Haddad is working to fill vacancies in various leadership positions, including commanders of brigades in some areas, while retaining others who had been chosen to run those brigades after their commanders were killed.
During the war, Israel assassinated most of the brigade commanders in the Gaza Strip (Northern, Central, Khan Younis, and Rafah), with the exception of the Gaza City Brigade, which was led by al-Haddad, who was replaced by Muhannad Rajab.
