Hamas meets in Qatar for political talks

Members of Hamas’ political bureau have come together in the Qatari capital, Doha, in the first political meetings since leadership elections in Cairo two weeks ago which saw Khaled Meshaal hold on to power. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is scheduled to leave the Gaza Strip to meet with Hamas officials, among them Khalil al-Haia, Imad al-Amali, Rouhi Moshtahi and Yahya Sinwar. Leading Hamas representative Ziad Zaza will stand in as caretaker prime minister in Haniyeh’s absence. Qatar talks will discuss Palestinian reconciliation efforts, currently mired by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s resignation and ongoing divisions with Fatah. Moussa Abu Marzouk is expected to continue overseeing reconciliation arrangements following the Doha summit. Hamas has seen surprise changes in its political leadership in the wake of the Cairo elections. Former Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar has left the bureau, reportedly due to series of public statements criticising Hamas, while Mohammed Nazzal and Mohammed Nasr will return. Unlike other Palestinian factions, Hamas conducts elections behind closed doors amongst leadership officials.