Khalil al-Hayya elected as Hamas’ new political bureau chief

Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, the Palestinian movement said in a statement.

“Hamas announces the election of Khalil al-Hayya as head of the movement’s political bureau,” the statement said, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

On July 18, Hamas held a vote to choose a new leader for the political bureau.

The position had remained vacant since the death of Yahya Sinwar in October 2024 in an Israeli strike on a residential building in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Sinwar had succeeded Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran in July 2024.

Since Sinwar’s death, the political bureau’s responsibilities had effectively been handled by Hamas’ leadership council.

Al-Hayya ​was ⁠among top officials targeted in an Israeli attack in ⁠Doha ​in 2025, ​Israeli officials told Reuters.

By Sabina Mammadli