UPDATED: Ismail Haniyeh elected new Hamas head

CAIRO - 6 May 2017: Senior Political leader of Palestinian Hamas Movement Ismail Haniyeh was announced Saturday as the new head of the political bureau of the movement, according to Palestinian media reports.

Internal elections in the movement kicked off Saturday in Gaza and Doha cities simultaneously via video conference; Haniyeh was announced as the winner, replacing Khaled Mashaal who assumed the position since 1996.

According to the internal regulations of the movement, Mashaal cannot run for the position again.

Three of Hamas leaders were running for the post, including Haniyeh, Mousa Marzook and Mohamed Nazal.

A political rift has grown inside the Palestinian movement over the past two years. Saturday’s elections were the last attempt to save the movement’s unity.