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The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has begun internal consultations tolegate a new head of the Politburo, replacement of Ismail Haniyehwas killed in an attack attributed to the Israeli secret service Mossad last Wednesday in Tehran.

The group said its political bureau and shura council, a secretive, largely religious advisory body, had convened “urgent meetings” to discuss who should succeed Haniyehjust as was done when other leaders of the group were killed.

At the moment, they seem to be the leading candidates to replace him. Khaled Mashal, a founding member of the Politburo and who had already headed it between 2004 and 2017, when Haniyeh succeeded him; and Khalil Al Haya, an influential figure within the group, close to the murdered leader.

“From the first hours of the criminal and treacherous Zionist operation to assassinate the brother, leader and tortured fighter Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political bureau and its Shura Council called for urgent meetings,” the group said in a statement.

The Palestinian Islamist group stressed that its executive bodies and Shura Council “effective and practical mechanisms for continuing the path of resistance” and that the movement will announce the results of its consultations as soon as they are completed.

“What is being spread in some media and social networks about assigning specific names to the leader of the movement “There is no basis for this.”he added.

Hamas assured its followers that this was not the first time that Israel had killed the group’s leaders and that the movement has always survived “for the high level of institutionality and deeply rooted Shura” and quickly chose his replacement.

Israel has killed several senior Hamas leaders in the past: the group’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, who was in a wheelchair in March 2004, and his successor Abdelaziz Rantisi less than a month later; as well as two other leaders of the armed wing, Salah Shehadeh (2002) and Ahmed Yabari (2012).

“The killing of brother-combatant Ismail Haniyeh will only increase the strength and determination of Hamas. and the Palestinian resistance will continue its path and its direction. Its pure and noble blood will light the fire of resistance, strengthen and intensify it,” he said.

Apart from Haniyeh, since the start of the war in Gaza, Israel eliminated Saleh al-Aruri, “number two” in the Politburo at the time of the Beirut explosion in January; and the military leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas: its top commander Mohamed Deif and his deputy Marwan Issa.

Deif has led the group’s military strategy since 2002 and is considered the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks, along with Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, who combines political and military aspects and is believed to be alive, hidden in the enclave’s tunnels.