Khalil al-Hayya

'The war hasn't erased Hamas': Group rebuilds regional influence

Under new leader Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas is strengthening ties with Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Qatar while seeking to reassert its political influence inside Gaza

Newly elected Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya. Premium
Palestinians protest in support of senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in the West Bank city of Nablus, August 20, 2025

Hamas support plunges among Palestinians as Barghouti emerges as top Abbas successor - poll

Gunmen stand guard at the funeral of Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas deputy military commander who was killed in an Israeli airstrike during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, February 7, 2025.

US-Hamas channel has value, but only if terrorists disappear from Gaza’s future - editorial

Despite suffering significant military losses during the war, Hamas’s new leadership has reaffirmed Gaza as the movement’s political and operational center of gravity.PremiumPremium

Does Hamas’s new course look like the old one? What Khalil al-Hayya’s election means - analysis


Hamas shifts covert organizational units, activities to Turkey following Qatari crackdown

Palestinian sources say that the transfer to Turkey involves most of Hamas's covert activities, while Qatar will continue to host the terror organization's leadership and public-facing activities.

Palestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard at a site as Hamas says it continues to search for the bodies of deceased hostages, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip December 3, 2025.

Khalil al-Hayya's rise won't transform Hamas or Gaza's future, expert tells ‘Post’ - interview

Dr. Michael Milshtein tells the Post that Hamas’ new leader Khalil al-Hayya may allow a technocratic government to operate in Gaza while the group continues to hold real power.

 Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya. (Illustrative)

How will Khalil al-Hayya's past shape Hamas' future? - analysis

By having its leaders abroad, it can claim it handed over control and still maintain power behind the scenes. Hayya will be key to this next step.

Khalil al-Hayya, senior leader and top Hamas legislative candidate, smiles during an interview with AFP at his office in Gaza City on April 21, 2021;illustrative

Hamas names Khalil al-Hayya, former wartime negotiator, as new head of political bureau

He is the first person appointed to the position since Yahya Sinwar's death in October 2024.

HAMAS POLITIBURO member Khalil al-Hayya attends a news conference in Damascus, Syria October 19, 2022.

Secret Hamas records given to 'Post' expose covert deception plan behind October 7 - exclusive

The documents, provided by the Meir Amit Institute, detail the progression of Hamas's secret plans to systematically deceive Israel into complacency before the October 7 massacre.

 Palestinians react as an Israeli military vehicle burns after it was hit by Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated areas of southern Israel, at the Israeli side of Israel-Gaza border, October 7, 2023.

Hamas planned to spark wider war against Israel with October 7 massacre - study

The study, titled "The Strategic Origins of Hamas’s October 7 Attack," was authored by Dr. Daniel Sobelman and is based on top-secret Hamas documents seized by Israeli forces during the war.

Terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad stand on a street during Eid al-Fitr in Gaza City, March 20, 2026.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya's son killed in Gaza, terror group confirms

A senior military source told Maariv that Azzam al-Hayya’s "death is of no interest to us, and if he was harmed, it was because he was somewhere he should not have been."

 Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya seen with Gazan residents in the background (illustrative)

Hamas completes Gaza voting for general political bureau head, winner to be announced - report

Hamas’s branches in the West Bank and abroad are expected to complete their voting processes and announce a winner next week, Qatari outlet Al-Alraby stated.

(L-R:) Senior Hamas officials Khaled Mashaal and Khalil al-Hayya

Who are the most senior Hamas, Hezbollah figures left alive? - explainer

In the wake of the devastation suffered by the groups, who are some of the most significant figures remaining in Hamas and Hezbollah?

Flags of Hezbollah and Hamas.

In first message from new spokesperson, Hamas admits death of Abu Obeida, Mohammed Sinwar

The new terror spokesperson also confirmed the deaths of Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, Muhammed Shabana, and Ra'ad Sa'ad. The IDF killed all the terror leaders within the past year.

The new Hamas spokesperson in front of an ilustrative image of former Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida's coffin.