Photo:ECFR/Khalid Mashal
On 17 October 2024, it became known that Yahya Sinwar, one of the leaders of the Hamas terrorist organisation in Gaza, had been killed. Against this backdrop, Khalid Mashal, known for his longstanding influence in the Hamas political wing, became a key player in the organisation. The Lebanese news agency LBCI and Newsru.coil report that Mashal will temporarily act as head of the political bureau, focusing on diplomatic negotiations with Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian representatives.
Following Sinwar’s death, negotiations on the release of hostages and prisoner exchanges may become more difficult. The killing of Sinwar comes amid an escalation of the conflict in the region, which, according to sources, will further exacerbate the situation.
Khalid Mashal: the path to leadership
Khalid Mashal was born in 1956 near Ramallah. He found himself in exile at an early age – after the Six-Day War, he and his family moved first to Jordan and then to Kuwait, where he was educated as a physics teacher. As a student, he became politically active, heading the Islamic Bloc in the student community and later becoming one of the founders of the Hamas movement.
After his expulsion from Kuwait in 1990, Mashal continued to build a terrorist network aimed at attacking Israel. His career was marked not only by the organisation of a series of terrorist attacks, but also by his constant evasion of Israeli attempts to eliminate him. In 1997, Israeli intelligence services attempted to poison Mashal, but thanks to the intervention of the Jordanian authorities, he managed to survive.
Over time, Mashal became an important political leader of Hamas, including moving to Syria and then to Qatar. In 2012, he even visited Gaza, despite the threat of elimination by Israel.
Difficult negotiations and instability in the region
After Sinwar’s death, Mashal became a key figure in the negotiations with international mediators. However, despite his temporary leadership, the situation in Hamas remains unstable. The question of who will lead the organisation on a permanent basis remains open. The absence of clear leadership in the midst of the conflict could lead to further radicalisation of Hamas’ actions.
There is growing concern in the international community about how developments in the region will affect the peace talks. Given the history of Khalid Mashal, who is one of Israel’s most bitter enemies, peace efforts may face new challenges.
Thus, Mashal’s temporary return to the head of Hamas is a significant event in the context of the current crisis in the Middle East.
