Hamas named Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader on Monday, the group confirmed, elevating the veteran negotiator to head its political bureau. Al-Hayya, a 66-year-old Gaza-born politician, won an internal run-off ballot against Khaled Meshaal to succeed Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli army in Gaza in October 2024.
Since Sinwar's death, a five-member leadership council had guided the organisation, comprising Meshaal, al-Hayya, Mohammed Darwish, Zaher Jabarin, and Nizar Awadallah. Al-Hayya previously served as Hamas's representative in ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt and survived a 2025 Israeli strike in Doha that killed one of his sons.
A ceasefire has held since October 2025, though Gaza's health ministry reported roughly 1,160 deaths during the truce period, bringing the overall toll to 73,283 since October 2023.