Khalil al-Hayya Appointed as New Hamas Political Bureau Chief
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has announced that Khalil al-Hayya has been appointed as the head of its political bureau, succeeding the late Yahya Sinwar. This position is considered the highest political authority within Hamas’s structure.
The decision was made following a second round of internal elections, which were necessitated due to a close competition between Khaled Meshaal and Khalil al-Hayya. In the first round, neither candidate secured an absolute majority of the votes from the Shura Council.
Al-Hayya replaces the interim management council led by Mohammed Darwish, which had temporarily led the movement after the assassination of Yahya Sinwar in October 2024. He assumes this responsibility at a time when Hamas is facing challenges including managing war negotiations, rebuilding regional relations, and dealing with security threats from Israel.
Khalil al-Hayya, known as “Abu Osama,” was born on November 5, 1960, in Gaza City. He pursued his studies in Islamic studies and Hadith sciences up to a doctoral level and before fully engaging in political activities, he was involved in teaching and academic work at the Islamic University of Gaza.
Al-Hayya joined Hamas in the late 1980s and in 2006 was elected as a representative of Gaza to the Palestinian Legislative Council. In recent years, he has played a key role in ceasefire negotiations and prisoner exchanges, leading Hamas’s negotiation teams in indirect talks with Israel.
The personal life of Hamas’s new political bureau chief has also been marked by heavy losses. During various Israeli attacks, four of his children, several grandchildren, and close relatives have been martyred. Most recently, in September 2025, his son Humam was killed in an attack in Doha, and in May 2026, another son, Azzam, was killed in the Gaza Strip.
