Monday, July 20, 2026 {HMC} Hamas LeaderPhoto Credit: Reuters Hamas has named Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s former chief negotiator, as its new leader.
He is the first person to be appointed to the position since Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza two years ago. An internal election was reportedly held in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and other locations where members were present.
Most of Hamas’s senior leadership was killed in Israeli airstrikes following deadly attacks during the war.
Mr. Al-Hayyah was born in 1960 in the West Bank and has been a member of Hamas since its founding in 1987.
