Khaled Mashaal, the head of the Hamas political bureau in Damascus, will not seek reelection, according to a statement issued on January 21 . . . Mashaal has held the position since 1996 . . . several senior leaders on Hamas’ 55-member Shura Council have urged him to consider this decision . . . a secret vote by Hamas members will likely be held to decide Mashaal’s replacement at some point later this year . . . it is expected that Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh and Mashaal's deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouk will run for Mashaal’s position . . . his decision not to seek reelection is a blow to reconciliation efforts between Hamas and Fatah . . . this decision to step down after 15 years likely pleases some of the more hard-line members of Hamas, who remain committed to violence against Israel despite efforts by Mashaal to call for a more pragmatic and moderate course of action that included reconciliation efforts with Fatah.