Khalil al-Hayya Named Hamas Leader in Post-Sinwar Leadership Shakeup
Hamas has named Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, succeeding Yahya Sinwar who was killed by the Israeli army in October 2024. Al-Hayya, a longtime Hamas official and former deputy chairman, won an internal runoff against Khaled Meshaal to head the five-member leadership council formed during the war, and has been a key diplomat operating from Qatar in mediation and ceasefire talks. His family has endured Israeli attacks, including the 2014 destruction of his elder son Osama’s home and a 2025 Doha attack that killed his son Humam.
