Khalil al-Hayya Appointed Hamas Leader Following Death of Yahya Sinwar
Hamas has appointed senior figure Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, the Palestinian group announced on Monday.
Hayya replaces Yahya Sinwar, who was killed during fighting with Israeli forces in Rafah, southern Gaza, in October 2024. Following Sinwar’s death, Hamas had operated under a leadership council instead of immediately naming a successor.
Khalil al-Hayya has been one of Hamas’s prominent political figures and has played a key role in negotiations and ceasefire discussions in recent years. He has also survived previous Israeli assassination attempts, including a strike in Doha that killed his son and several others.
Born in Gaza in 1960, Hayya has been involved with Hamas since its early years and has held senior political positions, including membership in the Palestinian Legislative Council.
