Veteran Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who was reelected on Monday, is well-respected in the Arab world and seen as the best choice to steer the Islamists through a Middle East in turmoil.
The reelection of the charismatic 56-year-old as the overall head of the Palestinian Islamist movement which rules the Gaza Strip, was widely seen as a shoo-in, with his new mandate confirmed by a vote in Cairo late on Monday.
"The leaders of Hamas chose Meshaal," the high-ranking official told AFP by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity after a late-night vote of the Shura Council which groups Hamas leaders from Gaza, the West Bank and overseas.
There had been some speculation that Meshaal, who is based in Qatar, would be forced aside by the movement's powerful leadership in Gaza, where it has been the ruling authority since 2007.
And Meshaal himself said last year he would not seek a new term.
But in the light of the regional turmoil sparked by the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, the thinking shifted, and Meshaal came to be seen as best-placed to guide the Islamist movement through the rapidly changing environment because of his extensive contacts in the Arab world, another Hamas official said.
Developments since the Arab Spring "pushed Hamas to choose Meshaal... who has given the movement a national face... and has good relations in the Arab world," the official told AFP.
A brilliant orator, Meshaal has used the freedom of movement that is denied to Hamas leaders in Gaza to criss-cross the Arab and Muslim world, raising the profile of the Islamist movement which seized control of the coastal enclave from forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas six years ago.
Hamas sources said the Shura Council had decided to appoint two deputies who would work under Meshaal -- Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniya who would be responsible for issues within the Palestinian territories, and Mussa Abu Marzuq who would handle all external issues.
Had Meshaal not run for another term, Abu Marzuk, his long-term deputy, would have likely taken over as leader.
Meshaal, who was born in the West Bank but went into exile as a child, made his first-ever visit to Gaza in December where he received a hero's welcome as he attended the celebrations marking 25 years since the founding of Hamas.
He was propelled to the movement's leadership in 2004 after Israel assassinated Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his successor Abdelaziz al-Rantissi in two deadly strikes on Gaza.
He himself is no stranger to Israeli attempts on his life, surviving a bungled assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997 when agents of Israel's Mossad spy agency tried to poison him.
Meshaal, one of the founders of the Islamist movement, was for years based in Damascus but last year he relocated to Doha, severing ties with President Bashar al-Assad's regime which has been battling a major uprising since March 2011.
Hamas has been subjected to a Western boycott since it won a shock victory over the long-dominant Fatah movement in a 2006 Palestinian parliamentary election.
Nearly 18 months later, bitter infighting between the two movements escalated into bloody street battles in Gaza, which culminated in Hamas expelling Fatah loyalists and seizing control of the territory.
Efforts to reconcile the two factions took a step forward in April 2011 with the signing of a unity deal but the agreement has largely stalled.
Hamas officials in Cairo for the leadership vote were also holding talks with Egyptian mediators about the reconciliation efforts, officials said.
Haniya was also looking to "clear the air" following Egyptian allegations of Gazan involvement in a deadly attack on Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula last year, Hamas sources said.
In the aftermath of the bloody August attack, Egyptian forces closed down dozens of smuggling tunnels on the Gaza border, raising tensions with Gaza's Hamas rulers whose territory has been subjected to an Israeli blockade since 2006.
AFP
Tue Apr 02 2013
![Khaled Meshaal reelected as Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal reelected as Hamas chief](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/81364897601_295x200.jpg)
![Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721119130_wargaemasbersalah.jpg)
Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mensabitkan kesalahan seorang warga emas atas dua pertuduhan pindaan membunuh abang dan kakak iparnya dua tahun lalu.
![PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721120782_TBMASERMIEYATI.jpg)
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin berkata tempoh itu diberikan susulan laporan audit berkaitan, baru dibentangkan pada minggu lepas.
![Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721118437_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi
Penambahbaikan aspek perundangan akan diteliti kerajaan, termasuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan beberapa kementerian berkaitan dalam masa terdekat.
![Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-12/81575261818_GobindSinghDeo.jpg)
Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind
Beliau menegaskan bahawa pelaksanaan e-Invois itu akan memberi manfaat, termasuk meningkatkan pendapatan PKS.
![Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai? Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117483_KimPangon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?
Bekas pengendali skuad negara itu dilaporkan sedang menjadi calon utama untuk mengisi jawatan pengurus kelab gergasi Korea Selatan, Ulsan Hyundai.
![Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/41482504881_TamanTasikTitiwang.jpg)
Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau
Daripada keluasan itu, sebanyak 977.55 hektar tanah telah diwartakan, manakala 1,416.24 hektar tanah lapang yang berpotensi akan dan sedang dalam proses diwartakan.
Guna jawatan untuk projek pembekalan, suami isteri ditahan
Sepasang suami isteri direman enam hari dalam siasatan penyalahgunaan jawatan untuk mendapatkan projek pembekalan bernilai lebih RM200,000.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
DBKL ubah lalu lintas Jalan Sultan Ismail bermula 22 Julai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan melaksanakan perubahan lalu lintas di Jalan Sultan Ismail berkuat kuasa 22 Julai ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721116604_ChongZheminDewan.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
[TERKINI] Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka kembali teguh
Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka teguh sepanjang tahun ini, demikian menurut BMI, iaitu syarikat Fitch Solitions.
![Palestin puji sokongan China-Arab untuk gencatan senjata, keahlian PBB Palestin puji sokongan China-Arab untuk gencatan senjata, keahlian PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81717131666_TBPalestinian.jpg)
Palestin puji sokongan China-Arab untuk gencatan senjata, keahlian PBB
Palestin memuji kenyataan bersama China-Arab yang dikeluarkan pada Persidangan Menteri ke-10 Forum Kerjasama China-Negara Arab di Beijing pada Khamis.
![Perang dicetuskan blok Barat untuk terus kekal berkuasa - Penganalisis Perang dicetuskan blok Barat untuk terus kekal berkuasa - Penganalisis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61712549077_KhanYounis.jpg)
Perang dicetuskan blok Barat untuk terus kekal berkuasa - Penganalisis
Kemunculan kuasa-kuasa besar baharu seperti China yang mempunyai kekuatan ekonomi sangat tidak dijangka oleh Barat.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Lawatan kerja PM Anwar ke Turkiye dan Mesir bincang isu Palestin - Wisma Putra Lawatan kerja PM Anwar ke Turkiye dan Mesir bincang isu Palestin - Wisma Putra](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/41697905505_anwaribrahimarab.jpg)
Lawatan kerja PM Anwar ke Turkiye dan Mesir bincang isu Palestin - Wisma Putra
Semasa lawatan tersebut, Perdana Menteri akan diiringi oleh Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, Menteri Luar Negeri dan pegawai-pegawai kanan Kerajaan.
![Pencalonan bagi Anugerah Raja Faisal bermula Pencalonan bagi Anugerah Raja Faisal bermula](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51693631499_TBKingFaisalPrize.jpg)
Pencalonan bagi Anugerah Raja Faisal bermula
Proses pencalonan bagi Anugerah Raja Faisal 2025 dibuka secara rasmi pada Jumaat bagi lima kategori iaitu Jasa kepada Islam, Pengajian Islam, Bahasa dan Kesusasteraan Arab, Perubatan dan Sains.
![SIBF 2021 bermula, alu-alukan ketibaan penerbit, pengkarya dari seluruh dunia SIBF 2021 bermula, alu-alukan ketibaan penerbit, pengkarya dari seluruh dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/71635979121_SIBF.jpg)
SIBF 2021 bermula, alu-alukan ketibaan penerbit, pengkarya dari seluruh dunia
Pesta buku ketiga terbesar di dunia itu berlangsung sehingga 13 Nov ini.
![Bawa kes penggunaan kalimah-kalimah Islam ke peringkat Mahkamah Rayuan - Muafakat Nasional Bawa kes penggunaan kalimah-kalimah Islam ke peringkat Mahkamah Rayuan - Muafakat Nasional](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-05/41589363278_MahkamahKL.jpg)
Bawa kes penggunaan kalimah-kalimah Islam ke peringkat Mahkamah Rayuan - Muafakat Nasional
Kerajaan Persekutuan perlu pastikan kes tersebut perlu dibawa sehingga ke peringkat Mahkamah Rayuan, kata Muafakat Nasional.
![Saluran YouTube bahasa Arab 'Omar & Hana' cecah lebih 100,000 langganan Saluran YouTube bahasa Arab 'Omar & Hana' cecah lebih 100,000 langganan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/51613959518_OmarHana.jpg)
Saluran YouTube bahasa Arab 'Omar & Hana' cecah lebih 100,000 langganan
Saluran YouTube Arab siri animasi popular 'Omar & Hana', berjaya merekodkan lebih 100,000 langganan dalam enam bulan sejak pelancarannya.
![LPP cadang tarik pelaburan RM800 juta dari negara-negara Arab LPP cadang tarik pelaburan RM800 juta dari negara-negara Arab](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/71609433711_DatukDrNikZawawi.jpg)
LPP cadang tarik pelaburan RM800 juta dari negara-negara Arab
Rundingan mengenainya telahpun bermula Selasa lepas bersama wakil Raja Bahrain.
![Pegawai Daerah nafi stadium sempena namanya, dakwa 'Ffira Mikah' dari bahasa Greek, Arab Pegawai Daerah nafi stadium sempena namanya, dakwa 'Ffira Mikah' dari bahasa Greek, Arab](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/71608090428_StadiumMiniFfiraM.jpg)
Pegawai Daerah nafi stadium sempena namanya, dakwa 'Ffira Mikah' dari bahasa Greek, Arab
Jelas beliau, nama baharu stadium itu mempunyai maksud tersirat dalam bahasa Arab dan Greek, yang secara kebetulan menyamai nama beliau sekiranya diterbalikkan.