The possibility that Nizar 'Awadala will oust Yahya Sinwar from the leadership of the terrorist organization in Gaza highlights the growing involvement of Iran and its stirring up of the Hamas leadership • Interpretation
Nizar Adawla vs. Yahya Sinwar // Photo: Reuters
If Nizar Awadallah is elected to head the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza and oust Yahya Sinwar, who was elected to office four years ago, it will be a real earthquake led by Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since its 2007 coup.
The main significance of the choice of the gray and lesser-known Awadallah on the face of the charismatic Sinwar actually highlights the Iranian involvement and stirring in the Gaza Strip, and moreover, in the Hamas leadership.
The election of Haniyeh and Sinwar four years ago for the two most senior positions in the Hamas leadership pushed aside members of the organization's political bureau, most of whom live abroad, and for the first time since the movement was founded, Hamas members boasted that the two most important figures come from the Gaza Strip.
However, there were those in the Hamas political bureau who did not like, to say the least, their exclusion from the centers of power and control in the organization, which caused a rift with the leaders of Hamas' military wing, of whom Sinwar is flesh and blood.
Moreover, there are those in the Hamas political bureau who do not like the alliance that Sinwar has made with Egypt, as well as the relative calm that has prevailed over the past year on the Gaza-Israel border.
This is, among other things, because of the indirect contacts with Israel through the mediation of Egyptian intelligence for long-term calm and regulation in the Gaza Strip and the financial grants from Qatar that are transferred to Gaza every month.
It would not be a wild guess to say that Awadallah, who for many years served as a representative of Hamas' political bureau in Damascus and weaves warm ties with senior members of the Ayatollah regime in Tehran, was marked by the Iranians as their preferred candidate to head Hamas in Gaza, even at Sinwar's expense. Which enjoys great sympathy and support not only among Hamas ranks in Gaza, but also from the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
If it turns out that Awadallah will be the one to head Hamas in Gaza, this is a move with geopolitical significance in light of Israel's efforts to help Egypt bring calm to the Gaza Strip and a great achievement for Iran, which not only moved Sinwar, who restored Egypt's status and influence in the Gaza Strip. Also to place on its behalf in the second most important position in the Hamas movement the person it wanted.
Through Awadallah, the ayatollahs 'regime seeks to return power and control to the movement to members of Hamas' political bureau, most of whom are abroad rather than in the Gaza Strip and close to the regime in Tehran.
