CAIRO: Khaled Meshaal is expected to become the new Hamas leader after Ismail Haniyeh’s death. Meshaal gained worldwide attention in 1997 when Israeli agents attempted to assassinate him with poison on a street outside his office in Amman, Jordan.
The failed assassination, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to a Hamas-claimed bombing, elevated Meshaal’s status. Israel provided an antidote for the poison after pressure from Jordan’s King Hussein, solidifying Meshaal’s reputation as a hero within the Palestinian resistance.
Meshaal, now 68, became Hamas’ political leader in exile in 1996, allowing him to represent the group internationally. He has consistently held a hardline stance against Israel. Rejecting a permanent peace deal but open to a temporary state solution.
His close ties with Iran were strained after he supported the Sunni-led revolt against Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Iran.
With Haniyeh’s death, Meshaal is likely to take over Hamas’ leadership, though he may face competition from Khalil al-Hayya. Meshaal has spent much of his life outside the Palestinian territories, living in Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria.
His leadership has often clashed with Hamas’ Gaza-based leaders, especially over efforts to reconcile with the Palestinian Authority. Despite internal and external challenges, Meshaal remains a key figure in Hamas, influencing the group’s direction and strategy.
