Khaled Mashaal appears to be the next leader of Hamas after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
Mashaal, who lives in Qatar and Egypt, has often represented Hamas in negotiations, including the current discussion of the hostage release deal.
Mashaal’s relationship with Iran has been tense because he supported Sunni Muslim-led revolt in 2011 against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
He ran Hamas while in Syria from 2004 until 2012 when he left abruptly, and has been kept from top leadership positions in Hamas since then.
Mashaal also aroused the displeasure of other Hamas leaders by supporting reconciliation with Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah Party, which is often at odds with Hamas.
