Hamas chooses Khalil al-Hayya as new head of political bureau

Doha – 20 July 2026: The Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau. The movement announced on Monday that al-Hayya succeeds Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October 2024 during an operation by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. According to a senior Hamas official, his candidacy received broad support in Gaza and within the organization’s structures abroad.

This decision ends a transitional phase of nearly two years. After Sinwar’s death, Hamas leadership had effectively been divided among a five-member body. This model was intended to ensure communication between the various components of the organization in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Israeli prisons, and abroad. The movement is now returning to centralized leadership of its political bureau.

Al-Hayya has been part of Hamas’s leadership cadre since the organization was founded in 1987. The Gaza-born politician was a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council after Hamas’s election victory in 2006. In recent years, he has gained importance primarily as a representative of Gaza-based structures and head of the Hamas delegation in indirect negotiations with Israel on ceasefires and the release of hostages.

The choice therefore primarily represents a sign of organizational continuity. Within the movement, al-Hayya is considered an intermediary between the remaining leaders in Gaza and the political leadership abroad. He also maintains relations with the mediating states of Qatar and Egypt, as well as with Iran, an important supporter of Hamas. However, his appointment does not signal any identifiable programmatic reorientation.

Hamas is under considerable pressure. The war with Israel, which followed the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, has severely weakened its military and political structures. Several senior leaders have been killed, while the administration of the Gaza Strip is increasingly being challenged. At the beginning of July, the organization announced the dissolution of its previous governing bodies in Gaza and spoke in favor of a technocratic Palestinian administrative structure.

This leadership decision is of particular importance for ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire. Even before his election, al-Hayya was a central figure in negotiations on hostages, humanitarian aid, and security guarantees. His new position could simplify decision-making processes within Hamas. Whether this will actually advance the stalled talks with Israel and the mediators will also depend on the positions of Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.