Hamas elects Haniyeh as new political chief: spokesman
GAZA CITY: The Palestinian movement Hamas elected Ismail Haniyeh to lead its political office on Saturday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told Reuters in Gaza.
Former deputy chief Haniyeh will replace Qatar-based veteran leader Khaled Meshaal, who steps down at the end of his term limit just as Hamas softened its stance toward Israel in a new policy document last week.
The group maintains a sizeable armed wing in the Gaza strip since seizing the coastal territory in 2007 from the rival Fatah party based in the West Bank…