In early September, the Palestinian and Arab press reported that Hamas is preparing for internal elections to select a successor to Khaled Meshaal, the head of its political bureau. The movement neither denied nor confirmed the news.

The talk about Hamas’ internal elections coincided with a surprise visit by the deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, to Saudi Arabia Sept. 4. He was there to perform hajj for the first time since 2006, when he headed the Palestinian government. The Palestinian Maan news agency claimed Sept. 7 that Haniyeh’s visit was political rather than religious, as he had scheduled other political visits after leaving Saudi Arabia. After completing hajj, Haniyeh headed to Qatar Sept. 17 and met with the Hamas leadership based in Doha. No details were made public on what was discussed during the visit.

However, on the same day, Hamas announced in an official statement that Haniyeh would return to Gaza after his visit to Doha. Mousa Abu Marzouk, another deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, also commented that Haniyeh had no intention of leaving the Gaza Strip for good and settling in Doha and stressed that Haniyeh’s trip was not part of an official visit. Haniyeh denied rumors that the purpose of his visit to Doha was to discuss his replacing Meshaal.

Hamas’ statements indicate that Haniyeh has no intention of making official foreign visits and that he will soon return to Gaza, indicating that he likely hasn’t been internally elected new head of the movement.