The Palestinian group Hamas has officially named Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political office. This decision fills the top leadership role that has been vacant since the death of the group’s previous leader.
Khalil al-Hayya, who formerly worked as the deputy head of the group, won the top position through an internal vote. He secured the leadership after winning a final run-off vote against Khaled Meshaal, a well-known veteran leader who used to head the political office and currently looks after the group’s affairs outside Palestine.
The top leadership spot had been vacant since October 2024, when the former chief, Yahya Sinwar, was killed during an Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza Strip. Since then, a small council of leaders had been running the group’s daily political decisions together.
Khalil al-Hayya is already a well-known figure, as he has been the main diplomat leading the ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchange talks. Political experts note that his promotion to the top spot means the team directly connected to Gaza will continue to hold strong control over the group’s future political choices.
