Ismail Haniyeh's Rise to Power
The New Leader of Hamas
Ismail Haniyeh was elected chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau on 6 May 2017, replacing Khaled Mashal. Haniyeh, who was previously the highest-ranking Hamas official in Gaza, is now the de facto ruler of the territory. He is also the second most powerful member of Hamas after Haniyeh.
A Look at Haniyeh's Career
Haniyeh was born in Gaza in 1963. He studied political science at the Islamic University of Gaza and became involved in Hamas in the early 1980s. He was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1989 and spent four years in prison. After his release, Haniyeh became a leader of the Hamas political wing.
In 2006, Haniyeh was elected prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority. However, his government was not recognized by Israel or the United States, and it collapsed after a year. Haniyeh has remained a leading figure in Hamas ever since.
Haniyeh's Challenges
Haniyeh faces a number of challenges as the new leader of Hamas. The group is facing increasing pressure from Israel and the United States, and it is also struggling to maintain unity within its ranks. Haniyeh will need to find a way to balance the demands of different factions within Hamas and to negotiate with Israel while also maintaining the group's commitment to armed resistance.
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