Hamas Appoints Khalil al-Hayya as New Head of Political Bureau

Hamas announced on Monday the appointment of Khalil al-Hayya as the new chairman of its political bureau. Born in Gaza in January 1960 and known by the nom de guerre Abu Osama, al-Hayya is a founding member of Hamas and a prominent political and social figure within Palestinian society. He previously served as a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and participated in the First Intifada in 1987.

Al-Hayya survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar last September, where several senior Hamas leaders were targeted. Following the attempt, he expressed sorrow over the losses suffered by the Palestinian people, including his own family members, while emphasizing resilience and hope for steadfastness against their adversaries.

Throughout the 1990s, al-Hayya spent three years in Israeli prisons on terrorism-related charges. He held leadership roles in the Islamic University student council and the Islamic Movement in Gaza. His home was struck twice by Israeli airstrikes in 2007 and 2014, resulting in the deaths of several family members. Additional relatives were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza after October 7.

In May 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to assassinate al-Hayya, who is considered closer to Tehran than former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. Al-Hayya attended the inauguration of the Iranian president alongside Ismail Haniyeh, while Meshaal was absent from the event.