Hamas set to elect its new leaders

GAZA CITY / ANKARA

Hamas was set to elect its new leader on April 6, Anatolia news agency reported. Members from Gaza, the West Bank and overseas were expected to elect leaders of every rank from local officials to high-ranking officials. Anonymous sources have said the movement’s political bureau hopes to hang on to Khaled Mashaal despite his stated intention to step down as its leader. Meanwhile, Turkey has strongly condemned the Israeli government for a recent move to open tenders for the construction of hundreds of new housing units in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa. “We strongly condemn the Israeli government for adding to its settlement activities in occupied Palestinian lands by opening tenders for more than 800 additional [housing] units,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on April 6.