Hamas elects Haniya as new chief of Islamic movement

Ismail Haniya was named the new chief of the Islamic Hamas movement on Saturday after he won in the recent internal elections, a spokesman for the movement in Gaza announced.

Abdulatif al-Qanou, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a statement that Haniya replaced Kahled Meshaal, the Hamas leader who has been the chief of the movement for eight years, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meshaal's first announcement was made to al-Jazeera News Channel in Qatar.

Meshaal announced from Doha that Haniya has been elected as the new chief of the movement. The announcement was made jointly between Qatar and Gaza via the video conference system.

The Hamas spokesman said the announcement was jointly made after Haniya and other Hamas leaders here were unable to travel to Qatar due to a blockade that is imposed on the Gaza Strip and the closure of Rafah crossing with Egypt.

"Electing Haniya and holding the well-organised internal elections on time were made in spite of the situation that Hamas is passing through," said al-Qanoua, adding "this reflects how powerful Hamas movement is".

He said the Hamas movement was pumping new blood into its leadership, referring to electing Yehya al-Sinwar, as the leader of the movement in the Gaza Strip, and electing a new Shoura Council.

--IANS

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