Hamas has entered a new chapter in its leadership after appointing Khalil al-Hayya as the group’s new chief on Monday, replacing Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024. The decision comes at a crucial time as the Israel-Gaza war continues and international efforts to secure a ceasefire remain underway. A founding member of Hamas and one of its most experienced political figures, al-Hayya has spent years leading negotiations with regional mediators and strengthening the group’s ties with key allies.
Here’s who Khalil al-Hayya is and why his appointment could shape Hamas’s next phase.
Who is Khalil al-Hayya?
Hamas has chosen Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, placing one of the group’s most senior political figures at the helm during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The appointment follows the death of former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024.
Al-Hayya, a founding member of Hamas and a key negotiator in ceasefire talks with Israel, will now lead the Palestinian group as it faces continued military pressure and diplomatic challenges.
Hamas Elects Khalil al-Hayya as New Leader
Hamas announced on Monday that Khalil al-Hayya had won an internal leadership vote, succeeding Yahya Sinwar as the group’s new chief. According to the group’s statement, al-Hayya defeated former Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal in a run-off election held by the movement’s leadership council.
His appointment formalises the leadership role he has increasingly played since several senior Hamas officials were killed in 2024.
Khalil al-Hayya: Long-Time Hamas Official
Born in the Gaza Strip in 1960, Khalil al-Hayya became involved with the Muslim Brotherhood during the early 1980s before joining Hamas at its founding in 1987. Over nearly four decades, he rose through the organisation’s political ranks and became one of its most influential leaders.
He worked closely with former Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, helping shape the group’s political strategy.
Khalil al-Hayya: Key Role in Ceasefire Negotiations
Al-Hayya is widely recognised as one of Hamas’s leading diplomats. Based primarily in Qatar, he has led Hamas delegations during indirect negotiations with Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at securing ceasefires and prisoner exchanges.
He also played an important role in negotiations that helped end the 2014 Gaza war and has remained involved in mediation efforts throughout the current conflict.
Khalil al-Hayya: Strong Ties With Iran
Political analysts consider al-Hayya one of Hamas’s closest figures to Iran, one of the group’s principal regional supporters.
He has represented Hamas in meetings with Arab and Islamic countries and has frequently acted as the organisation’s senior political representative outside Gaza.
His international role became even more important after Hamas shifted much of its external political leadership to Qatar.
Khalil al-Hayya: Leadership After Heavy Losses
Al-Hayya emerged as one of Hamas’s most senior remaining leaders following a series of Israeli operations that killed several top officials.
Those included:
- Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza.
- Mohammed Deif, the group’s military commander.
- Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated during a visit to Tehran in 2024.
Following those losses, al-Hayya became one of five members of Hamas’s temporary leadership council established to oversee the organisation during the war.
Khalil al-Hayya: Personal Losses During the Conflict
The conflict has also deeply affected al-Hayya’s own family. During the 2014 Gaza war, an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed his eldest son Osama, his daughter-in-law and three grandchildren after their home was destroyed.
In September 2025, another reported Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar, killed his son Humam, according to Hamas and regional media reports.
Khalil al-Hayya Son
- May 7, 2026: Azzam al-Hayya, the fourth son of Khalil al-Hayya, died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike on the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City.
- 2008: One of al-Hayya’s sons was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza while reportedly leading a Hamas rocket unit.
- 2014: Another son was killed along with his wife and child after an Israeli airstrike hit the family’s home during the Gaza war.
- September 2025: Hammam al-Hayya was killed in an Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar, during an operation that reportedly targeted Khalil al-Hayya, who survived.
Khalil al-Hayya Net Worth
According to some media reports, his fortune has been estimated at around $5 billion, citing claims about the wealth of senior Hamas leaders based outside Gaza. These reports have drawn attention amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. Other publications, including The Times of Israel, have reported that the combined wealth of Hamas’s top leadership has been estimated at around $11 billion, though these figures remain unverified and have not been independently confirmed.
Khalil al-Hayya Age
Khalil al-Hayya is 65 years old as of 2026. He was born on November 5, 1960, in the Gaza Strip.
Khalil al-Hayya Lives Where
Khalil al-Hayya is believed to be based primarily in Doha, Qatar, where much of Hamas’s external political leadership has operated in recent years. Living outside Gaza has allowed him to travel for diplomatic meetings and participate in mediation efforts involving Qatar, Egypt, the United States and other regional stakeholders.
Khalil al-Hayya Children
Khalil al-Hayya has seven children. According to available reports, at least four of them have been killed in separate Israeli military operations over the past two decades.
Khalil al-Hayya News
The latest major development involving Khalil al-Hayya came in July 2026, when Hamas officially appointed him as the group’s new leader after an internal election. He succeeded Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October 2024. His appointment comes as the Israel-Gaza war continues and international mediators pursue efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage agreement.
Khalil al-Hayya: His Appointment Means
Al-Hayya’s appointment places one of Hamas’s most experienced political figures in charge at a critical moment for the organisation.
With extensive experience in diplomacy, negotiations and regional relations, he is expected to continue overseeing Hamas’s political and international strategy while the conflict with Israel continues.
His election also signals Hamas’s focus on maintaining diplomatic engagement alongside its military leadership as international mediation efforts to end the war continue.
