Ismail Haniya Elected New Political Chief Of Hamas

Ismail Haniya has been elected as new leader of Hamas’ political bureau, the Palestinian movement’s news agency reported.

Khalid Meshaal, who preceded Haniya as leader of the bureau, confirmed the transition of power to Al Jazeera.

“I would like to announce that this new council has elected Abu al-Abed, my brother Ismail Haniya, the president of the political bureau of the movement,” Meshaal said in a statement.

“The new leadership will announce any other names in the appropriate time. The movement blesses this election which came in a consultative, democratic way that is homogenous with the lists and that shows the unity of the movement.”

Haniya was born in 1962 to a refugee family at the Shati refugee camp, just outside Gaza City.

In 1983 he joined the Islamic University of Gaza, where he soon joined the Islamic Student Bloc, a precursor to Hamas.

In 1987 he graduated with a BA in Arabic literature.