GAZA, May 1 (UPI) -- Islamic Hamas movement officials in Gaza announced on Saturday that a team of leaders was assigned to lead the movement instead of having one individual leader.
Israeli reports earlier revealed that Hamas assigned Mahmoud Azzahar as a new leader after its Gaza leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, was assassinated in an Israeli strike in Gaza on April 17.
Sami Abu Zahri, a Hamas representative, said that it was decided to form a team of leaders to lead Hamas in Gaza instead of having one leader that handles all responsibilities.
Abu Zuhri, a new Hamas spokesman who is not wanted by Israel, told UPI that assassinating Hams leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Rantisi "is very painful and very difficult."
"But we were not internally affected by missing our top leaders, because we have a wide popular support and have intellectuals who are able to create new alternative of leaders," said Abu Zuhri.
