Hamas announces top peace talks representative chosen as its newly appointed chief

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior leader and top Hamas legislative candidate, was elected as the new head of the group's political bureau, as announced by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on July 20, 2026.

n

Al-Hayya, who serves as the group's lead negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with Israel, will succeed the martyred leader Yahya al-Sinwar, according to a statement released by Hamas.

n

The statement described al-Hayya as "brother mujahid" and described the election process, with Hamas stating "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces the election of brother mujahid Khalil al-Hayya as head of the movement’s political bureau, succeeding the martyred leader Yahya al-Sinwar".

n

Yahya al-Sinwar, who was accused by Israel of being one of the principal architects of the October 7, 2023, attacks, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza a year later.

n

Following al-Sinwar's death, Hamas was led by a five-member leadership council headed by long-time senior official Mohammed Darwish.

n

Khalil al-Hayya, born in 1960, had previously survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha last year, although one of his sons was killed in the strike.

n

Al-Hayya emerged victorious in the leadership contest, defeating former Hamas chief and veteran leader Khaled Meshaal.

n

A senior Hamas official revealed that "Khalil al-Hayya was elected by an overwhelming majority" and is expected to formally assume the role next week.

n

The official also stated that "The political bureau will meet in Istanbul within days to form committees and begin restructuring Hamas’s leadership bodies".

n

The current five-member leadership council will be dissolved, with its members submitting their resignations to the group’s Shura Council, according to the official.

n

A source in Hamas explained that "The election process was conducted through a highly complex and secretive mechanism because of the difficult security situation and the occupation’s assassination of several political and military leaders".

n

Representatives of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, declared their "full support" to al-Hayya.