Khaled Mashal tipped as new Hamas chief

KABUL (Pajhwok): Khaled Mashal, heading the Hamas office abroad, has reportedly been picked as the Palestinian group’s leader, says a media report.

Mashal succeeds Yahya Sinwar, chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, whose death has been confirmed by the group in an Israeli raid.

Chosen as acting Hamas leader, Mashal would stay in contact with the parties involved in talks on the release of Israeli hostages, Lebanon’s LBCI news website reported.

The Palestinian group has informed Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian officials of Sinwar’s death during an Israeli operation in Tel al-Sultan.

Following his death on October 16, the group said, talks on swapping prisoners and ending the conflict would become increasingly difficult.

PAN Monitor/mud