A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the Palestinian group was in the final phase of selecting a new leader, with two prominent figures competing for the position.Hamas recently completed the formation of a new Shura Council, a consultative body largely composed of religious scholars, as well as a new political bureau, the official said.For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.Since the war in Gaza began following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Israeli forces have killed several of the movement’s leaders, including two former chiefs.“The movement has completed its internal elections in the three regions and has reached the final stage of selecting the head of the political bureau,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly.He added that the race for the group’s leadership is now between Khaled Meshaal and Khalil al-Hayya.A second Hamas source confirmed the