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Khalil al‑Hayya elected new Hamas political chief
Hamas announced that Khalil al‑Hayya has been chosen as the head of its political bureau, replacing the late Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli strike in October 2024. The internal vote, described as secret and complex, was decided by a 71‑member Shura council. Al‑Hayya won a narrow majority, receiving 35 of 69 votes against former office‑holder Khaled Meshaal. A veteran negotiator and longtime member of the movement’s political bureau, al‑Hayya survived several Israeli assassination attempts, including a 2025 attack on Hamas offices in Doha that killed his son. He is regarded as a pragmatist with strong ties to Iran and Qatar and has been the principal interlocutor in indirect cease‑fire talks with Israel. His election comes as the Gaza war enters a second year, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating for the enclave’s two‑million residents and ongoing international pressure for a Hamas disarmament and a broader peace agreement.