Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as its new chief. After 24 months the organization got its leader. He has been a senior leader of the organization and the chief negotiator of cease-fire talks.
Gaza’s terrorist organization Hamas finally got its new chief. Nearly two years after the death of Hamas’s biggest leader Ismail Haniya, the organization has elected Khalil al-Hayya as its new chief. Al-Hayya has previously served as the head of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza. After the internal elections of Hamas, he has been handed over the command of the organization.
Played important role in ceasefire talks
Khalil al-Hayya has been Hamas’s chief negotiator in negotiations regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages during the Gaza war. This war started after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. The organization was led by a five-member Leadership Council for the past two years following the deaths of former Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniya. Khalil al-Hayya was also among the prominent members of this council.
journey from gaza to qatar
Khalil al-Hayya was born in the Gaza Strip and lived there most of his life. He left Gaza for Qatar shortly before the events of 7 October 2023 and has lived there since. While in Qatar he maintained dialogue with the political leadership of various Arab countries.
Visited Tehran with Ismail Hania
In July 2024, Khalil al-Hayya went to Tehran with Ismail Haniya, the then leader of Hamas. It was during this trip that Haniya was assassinated on July 31, 2024. Khalil al-Hayya had publicly said that the purpose of the October 7, 2023 attack was to capture Israeli soldiers and conduct a prisoner swap. He supported the attack and called it a step that brought the Palestinian issue back to the center of global discussion.
Called the October 7 attack a great deed
In an interview with The New York Times in November 2023, Khalil al-Hayya described the October 7 attack as a noble and noble act. According to him, the Hamas leadership had already anticipated that there would be a big reaction after this action. He had said that the aim of this attack was to change the entire equation and bring the Palestinian issue back on the international agenda.
Education and political journey
Khalil al-Hayya graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza. After this, he obtained a master’s degree in Hadith from the University of Jordan. Khalil has also done PhD. He has been associated with the organization since its establishment in 1987. Since 2006, he has also been a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, representing Gaza City. Khalil al-Hayya has lost several members of his family during Israeli military operations. According to reports, his wife, several sons and other relatives were killed in the attacks. He narrowly escaped an Israeli attack in Doha in 2025.