GAZA — The Palestinian group Hamas has appointed Khalil al-Hayya as its new political leader, replacing Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in October 2024, according to reports.
Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official and longtime member of the group’s political leadership, is expected to take a central role in guiding the movement’s political strategy amid ongoing tensions with Israel and uncertainty over the future of Gaza.
The appointment comes after Sinwar’s death created a leadership vacuum within Hamas. Sinwar had been one of the group’s most influential figures and was widely regarded as a key architect of Hamas’s military and political approach before his killing.
Israeli forces had previously identified al-Hayya and other senior Hamas leaders as key targets. In September, Israel carried out a strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting a location where Hamas officials were reportedly present. Al-Hayya and other members of the leadership were reported to have survived the attack.
The move to appoint al-Hayya highlights Hamas’s efforts to maintain organizational continuity as it faces intense military pressure, political challenges, and negotiations over Gaza’s future.
Al-Hayya has been involved in Hamas’s political activities for years and has represented the group in diplomatic contacts, including negotiations related to ceasefires, prisoner exchanges, and regional mediation efforts.
The leadership change comes as international efforts continue to address the conflict in Gaza, with mediators seeking agreements on humanitarian access, a possible ceasefire, and long-term arrangements for governance and security in the territory.
Israel has not publicly accepted Hamas’s leadership changes and continues to consider the group a major security threat, while Hamas maintains that it represents Palestinian political and resistance interests.
