Sanaa: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has appointed Khalil al-Hayya as the head of its political bureau, following the death of former leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in Rafah during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas.
According to Anadolu Agency, Hayya, who previously served as Sinwar's deputy, has now assumed leadership in Gaza. He has been a key figure in Hamas' political landscape, having led the group's delegations in indirect negotiations with Israel to reach a ceasefire and broker a prisoner exchange deal. Born in 1960, Hayya holds a doctorate in the Prophetic Sunnah and Hadith Sciences from Sudan's University of the Holy Quran, earned in 1997. His political career includes being elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 and holding several senior positions within Hamas. In 2021, he became the head of the group's Arab and Islamic Relations Office.
Khalil al-Hayya rose to prominence during the Gaza war, heading Hamas' negotiating team in discussions mediated by Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Trkiye. His efforts have focused on ending the Israeli war, securing withdrawal from Gaza, achieving a prisoner exchange, reopening border crossings, and initiating the reconstruction of the heavily damaged enclave. Under Hayya's leadership, Hamas indicated its willingness to transfer Gaza's administration to a Palestinian committee of independent professionals and showed openness to the deployment of UN forces for ceasefire monitoring.
In a significant statement in October 2025, Hayya declared Hamas' readiness to disarm if Israel ended its occupation and allowed the establishment of a Palestinian state. Despite surviving multiple assassination attempts, including a deadly attack on his family home in 2007 and a targeted strike in Doha in 2025 that killed his son and several others, Hayya remains a steadfast advocate for Palestinian sovereignty and the return of refugees. He has called for legal action against Israeli leaders and continues to support negotiations aimed at solidifying the ceasefire and halting the ongoing war.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 73,000 Palestinians and injuries to more than 173,000 since October 2023, with approximately 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure severely damaged, as reported by Palestinian sources.