Khalil al-Hayya Takes Over Leadership of Hamas Following Yahya Sinwar's Death

Khalil al-Hayya has been appointed as the new leader of Hamas following the assassination of Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces. Al-Hayya, who previously served as the deputy chairman, won an internal election against Khaled Meshaal. His leadership comes at a time of significant turmoil for Hamas, with several senior leaders lost in recent conflicts. Al-Hayya's background includes a long history with Hamas and key roles in negotiations with Israel. Despite his new position, he has faced personal tragedies, including the loss of multiple family members in the ongoing conflict. Read on to learn more about his journey and what this leadership change means for the future of Hamas.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 21, 2026, 10:03 IST

Hamas Appoints New Leader

Hamas has officially announced Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024. The announcement was made on Monday, revealing that al-Hayya triumphed in an internal run-off election against former political chief Khaled Meshaal. Previously, al-Hayya served as the deputy chairman of Hamas and was one of the five members on the group's leadership council.

His prominence within Hamas increased significantly following the deaths of several senior leaders in 2024, including Sinwar, military commander Mohammed Deif, and political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated during a trip to Tehran. In the wake of these losses, al-Hayya became part of the five-member leadership council, a temporary governing body established in late 2024 to manage the group's operations amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He also played a crucial role as Hamas's chief negotiator in the ceasefire discussions with Israel that took place in October 2025, although the ceasefire has not halted the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza. Notably, al-Hayya has survived at least two assassination attempts by Israeli forces.

Background of Khalil al-Hayya

Who Is Khalil al-Hayya?

Khalil al-Hayya was born in the Gaza Strip in 1960 and has been affiliated with Hamas since its inception in 1987. He was elected to the Palestinian Authority parliament in 2006. Primarily based in Qatar, al-Hayya has emerged as a significant diplomatic figure for Hamas, leveraging his location outside Gaza to engage in negotiations with Israel, Egypt, the United States, and other mediators. He has led multiple Hamas delegations in indirect ceasefire discussions with Israel.

As reported by Al Jazeera, there has been no official response from Israel regarding al-Hayya's election. However, correspondent Nour Odeh noted that he is perceived as a hardliner by Israeli officials. Odeh stated, "Israel has not officially reacted to this election but he is described in Israel as 'a hawk', as someone who is closer to Iran than the Arab governments, even Turkey. This may provide insight into future developments." The election process for Hamas leadership was described as complex and took several months to finalize, involving various layers of elections across the West Bank, Gaza, Israeli prisons, and the diaspora.

Al-Hayya has endured significant personal tragedies throughout the conflict. Reports indicate that four of his children have lost their lives due to Israeli attacks over the years. During the 2014 Gaza war, an Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of his eldest son Osama, his son's wife, and their three children when their home was destroyed. Additionally, in September of last year, another Israeli strike on a residential complex in Doha, Qatar, reportedly resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including al-Hayya's son Humam.