GAZA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on Friday it has launched its internal elections to select a new leadership.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement that the internal elections "are held according to rules, regulations and specific dates."
"Hamas' internal elections are part of its organizational and cultural structures," Qassem said, adding that Hamas believes "the elections are the only way for our people to select their representatives in all locations."
The Hamas spokesman didn't provide more details about the the movement's elections.
The last internal elections of Hamas were held in 2017, when Ismail Haniyeh was elected as the movement's politburo chief and succeeded Khaled Mashal, who had chaired the movement for eight years.
Hamas' internal elections take place every four years. The election process spans a number of months and involves the movement's various local politburos.
The process is underground. At the end of the elections, the movement unveils the new central politburo chief and members. Enditem
