In a press release, Ismail Haniya, Chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau, announced the election of Yahya Al-Sinwar as Hamas’ leader in Gaza.

Haniya said that the initiation of elections in Gaza, the West Bank, abroad and previously in the occupation’s prisons confirms the institutionalization of the Movement despite its geographical distribution at home and abroad. He also pointed that the Movement’s elections are being observed by the Palestinian people, the Islamic nation and the Israeli occupation which has three significant indications.

First, it reflected the movement’s position in the Palestinian political map. Second, it showed that the movement’s elections were real. Third, the Movement's periodic primary elections every four years confirm its belief in the principle of the circulation of power, which confirms the seriousness of the Movement in the upcoming elections.