Hamas names Khalil al-Hayya as new overall leader
Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, succeeding Yahya Sinwar following his death in 2024. Al-Hayya, a long-time negotiator and hardliner, is expected to maintain the group's current political and diplomatic trajectory.
Why it matters
The leadership transition in Hamas is a critical development in the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.
Image source, Turkish Foreign Ministry handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Image caption, Khalil al-Hayya survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar in September 2025
The Palestinian armed group Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, according to a statement.
He replaces Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli military in Gaza in October 2024.
Hayya, who already headed the movement in Gaza from exile, was widely seen as representing the more hardline faction that emerged from the devastating war with Israel that began almost three years ago. He was a close associate of Sinwar and is seen as continuing the political line going back to the late Ismail Haniyeh.
As the chief negotiator for Hamas, Hayya gained international prominence by leading the group's delegations at indirect ceasefire talks, meeting mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
He had recently taken on greater responsibility for Hamas's diplomatic and political strategies.
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