Who is Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s newly elected political chief?

Veteran negotiator assumes Palestinian group’s overall leadership following a wartime election process.Palestinian group Hamas has announced the election of Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau.Al-Hayya’s election on Monday follows the killing of the previous leader, Yahya Sinwar, by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip in 2024. Sinwar had taken over after the Israeli assassination of political head Ismail Haniyeh earlier that year. Al-Hayya himself survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar last year.His appointment came…
Khalil al-Hayya has been elected as the new head of Hamas's political bureau, following a run-off vote within the movement's General Shura Council against Khaled Meshaal. This election comes after the deaths of previous leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh in 2024. Al-Hayya, born in Gaza City in 1960, has a long history with Hamas, co-founding the group in 1987 and serving in various leadership roles, including deputy leader in Gaza and chief negotiator in ceasefire talks. His appointment aligns with Hamas's internal framework requiring top leadership to reflect key geographical sectors. Palestinian political analyst Abdullah Aqrabawi noted that the decision to conduct a formal vote during ongoing military operations reflects Hamas's "deep-seated institutionalism."
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