Gaza: Hamas Appoints Khalil al-Hayya as New Leader

Gaza (Terror Monitor) — Hamas has announced the appointment of Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was killed during fighting with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip in October 2024.

Al-Hayya, who emerged as one of Hamas's most influential figures following the deaths of Sinwar and former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, has served as the group's chief negotiator in exile. He is widely regarded as more hardline than Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas's political office abroad and another leading contender for the post.

According to Reuters, Israeli officials said al-Hayya was present with senior Hamas leaders at a location in Doha, Qatar, that was targeted in 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately comment on his appointment.

Following Sinwar's death, Hamas was temporarily led by a five-member leadership council that included al-Hayya, Meshaal, and three other senior officials. The leadership election, which began in January, was delayed due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

Hamas's 50-member consultative council—comprising representatives from Gaza, the occupied West Bank, members imprisoned in Israel, and exiled leaders—elects the group's chief.

Palestinian political analyst Reham Odeh told Reuters that al-Hayya's appointment signals Hamas's commitment to armed resistance, its rejection of calls for disarmament, and its intention to maintain ties with Iran and the so-called "Axis of Resistance" while rebuilding its military capabilities.

The appointment comes as U.S.-backed efforts to reach a comprehensive Gaza settlement remain stalled. President Donald Trump's proposed ceasefire plan calls for Hamas to disarm, Israeli forces to withdraw, and Gaza to be governed by a technocratic Palestinian administration under a proposed "Board of Peace." However, negotiations involving Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and international mediators have yet to produce a lasting agreement.

Founded in 1987, Hamas is facing one of the most difficult periods in its history following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The conflict has severely weakened the group, intensified international calls for its disarmament, and left widespread devastation across the territory, where health authorities say more than 73,000 people have been killed.