With Hamas's centre of gravity shifting back to Gaza via Cairo, Mr Haniyeh may be eyeing Mr Meshal's job.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Palestine

Under this, the prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, would resign to make way for someone agreed on by both parties.

ECONOMIST: One consequence of Beit Hanoun

Tensions have emerged with an older generation, including the prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, who after an attack on UN summer camps pleaded for tolerance.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Gaza

It is not clear who might replace Mr Meshaal, although Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of Hamas's government in the Gaza Strip, is a likely candidate.

BBC: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal 'to step down'

The portly Mr Haniyeh is encroaching on Mr Meshal's turf, touring the region with a posse of ministers from Gaza, to be hosted by heads of state.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Palestine

Its prime minister, Hisham Qandil, told Mr Haniyeh to conciliate his Palestinian rivals under Mahmoud Abbas who run the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah on the West Bank, if he wanted relations with Egypt to improve.

ECONOMIST: Egypt and Gaza