Mashaal will step down as party chief

Hamas’ leader in exile, Khaled Mashaal, is not seeking re-election, a Hamas official said Sunday. Senior Hamas official Salah Bardawil said that Mashaal will remain in the Islamist movement but has decided not to run for re-election as party chief, reported the Palestinian news agency Ma’an. “When Mashaal said he was not seeking re-election, a message was sent to him from the movement’s leaders unanimously asking him to change his mind,” Bardawil said. Serious discussions are ongoing within Hamas about a successor to Mashaal. The only potential candidates would be current prime minister Ismail Haniyeh or deputy head of Hamas politburo Mousa Abu Marzouq, based in Cairo. Sources said that Abu Marzouq is likely to be the preferred choice.