Khalil Al Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward

Khalil Al Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 14:11 The Gaza-born leader takes charge after decades in Hamas’s political, parliamentary and negotiating ranks Khalil Al Hayya, senior leader and top Hamas legislative candidate, smiles during an interview with AFP at his office in Gaza City on 21 April 2021 (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP) Off Hamas has elected Khalil Al Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, placing one of the movement’s most experienced negotiators at the centre of its leadership during a period where Gaza is still facing Israeli genocide and the region faces a renewed war. The movement announced the result on Monday after an internal ballot of the leadership in which Hayya secured 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas abroad and a former political bureau chief, who received 34, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Palestine bureau chief, Walid Al Omari. The vote completed a leadership process that began in May after Hamas failed to settle the contest in its first round.