Who is Khalil Al-Hayya? Hamas’ new political bureau chief

Hamas has appointed Khalil Al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, entrusting one of the movement’s longest-serving leaders with steering the organization through one of the most challenging periods in its history.

His appointment follows the death of former Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in Israeli military operations in 2024. Al-Hayya is expected to serve as the movement’s political leader until the end of the current electoral term in 2027.

A Childhood Shaped by Conflict

Born on November 5, 1960, in Gaza City, Khalil Al-Hayya grew up in a conservative Palestinian family whose life was profoundly affected by the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and Israel’s subsequent occupation of Gaza. According to accounts of his early life, military raids on his family home and the detention of relatives left a lasting impression on him, influencing his political outlook from an early age.

A defining moment came in March 1980, when he met Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas. The meeting marked the beginning of Al-Hayya’s involvement in organized Islamic and political activism, laying the foundation for a career that would span more than four decades.

Academic Background and Rise in Hamas

Unlike many political figures shaped solely by activism, Al-Hayya also built a strong academic profile. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from the Islamic University of Gaza in 1983, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Jordan in 1986. In 1997, he completed a doctorate in Hadith Studies in Sudan.

He later served as Dean of Student Affairs at the Islamic University of Gaza and became active in Palestinian religious and scholarly organizations.

When Hamas was established in 1987, Al-Hayya was among its founding members. During the First Intifada, he was arrested multiple times by Israeli forces and spent periods in detention.

Political Career and Diplomatic Role

Al-Hayya formally entered electoral politics in 2006, winning a seat in the Palestinian Legislative Council. He later led Hamas’ parliamentary bloc and gradually became one of the movement’s most influential political figures.

Over the past two decades, he has held several senior positions, including Deputy Head of Hamas in Gaza and chief of the movement’s Office for Arab and Islamic Relations.

His reputation grew as one of Hamas’ principal negotiators. He led Hamas delegations during ceasefire negotiations following the 2012 and 2014 Gaza conflicts, and after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, he became a central figure in indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt on ceasefires and prisoner exchanges.

Based largely in Doha, where Hamas has maintained a political office since 2012, Al-Hayya played a key role in maintaining the group’s regional diplomatic contacts. In November 2023, he headed a Hamas delegation that met Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon to discuss regional developments.

Personal Losses Amid Conflict

Al-Hayya’s political journey has also been marked by repeated personal tragedies.

In May 2007, an Israeli airstrike on his family home reportedly killed seven relatives, including two of his brothers.

In 2008, his son Hamza, who was reported to be affiliated with Hamas’ armed wing, was killed in a drone strike.

During the 2014 Gaza war, another Israeli strike killed his eldest son Osama, along with Osama’s wife and their three children.

He also survived several assassination attempts. In January 2024, he escaped unharmed from a drone strike in Beirut that killed Hamas deputy political chief Saleh al-Arouri.

In September 2025, an Israeli strike on a residential complex in Doha killed his son Hammam, his office director Jihad Labad, three bodyguards and a Qatari security officer, while Al-Hayya survived.

Earlier this year, another son, Azzam, died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood.

Leading Hamas During Wartime

Despite years of conflict, repeated arrests, assassination attempts and the loss of several family members, Khalil Al-Hayya has remained one of Hamas’ most prominent political figures.

His election as the movement’s political chief comes at a time when Gaza remains devastated by war, regional tensions remain high, and diplomatic efforts continue over ceasefires, humanitarian access and prisoner exchanges.

As Hamas enters a new chapter under Al-Hayya’s leadership, observers expect him to play a central role in shaping the group’s political strategy, regional diplomacy and negotiations in an increasingly volatile Middle East.