Khalil al-Hayya has been elected as the new head of Hamas’s Political Bureau, Palestinian sources confirmed on Monday following an internal electoral process that included representatives from the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Israeli prisons, and the Palestinian diaspora. The appointment signals continuity in Hamas’s leadership and its ongoing resistance strategy.
Al-Hayya, born in 1960 in the Gaza Strip, is among the founding members of Hamas and holds a doctorate in Islamic studies. Known as a senior political figure within the movement, he has endured several assassination attempts over the years. In September 2025, an Israeli strike on a building housing the Hamas delegation in Qatar targeted al-Hayya, killing his son Hommam, his office director, and several aides, while he survived the attack. Earlier, in 2014, an Israeli bombing of his family home resulted in the deaths of his eldest son Osama, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Following his election, al-Hayya conveyed a message emphasizing the Palestinians’ claim to their land and reaffirming their commitment to resist Israeli occupation. “I tell the occupiers that we are the rightful owners of Palestine,” he said, according to the Shehab News Agency. He further asserted that the killing of resistance leaders, commanders, or their children would not weaken their determination, stating, “Neither the killing of our children nor the martyrdom of our leaders and commanders will intimidate us or cause us to lose our resolve.” Al-Hayya also expressed willingness to face martyrdom in pursuit of their cause.
Within Israel, reactions to al-Hayya’s appointment highlighted concerns about Hamas’s resilience and growth. Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of having defeated Hamas, describing the new leadership selection as evidence of the group’s strengthening position. Lieberman said, “After three years, Hamas is becoming stronger, recruiting tens of thousands of fighters, and has now chosen a new leader. This is the prime minister’s ‘total victory.’”
Hamas framed al-Hayya’s election as the culmination of a consultative process involving multiple factions within the movement, underscoring its intent to maintain its strategic alliances and resistance efforts. Observers see the selection as a sign that Hamas intends to continue its established approach in Gaza while preserving ties with the broader Axis of Resistance.