Hamas appoints new leader

The Palestinian militant group Hamas announced on Monday that it has appointed Halil Al-Haja as its new overall leader. Al-Haja succeeds Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in combat with Israeli forces in 2024 during the two-year war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

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Hamas has appointed Halil Al-Haja as its main leader, the Palestinian militant group announced on Monday.

Al-Haja, who had been an exiled leader of the group in Gaza and served as its chief negotiator, has seen his influence grow significantly. This rise in prominence follows the deaths of both Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran in July 2024. Al-Haja was reportedly targeted by an Israeli strike in Doha in 2025, according to Israeli officials cited by Reuters.

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Al-Haja replaces Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in combat with Israeli forces in 2024 while Hamas waged a two-year war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The leadership change comes amidst the ongoing conflict and reflects the evolving dynamics within Hamas's senior ranks. The group has been engaged in a protracted war with Israel since 2024, with significant consequences for the Gaza Strip.

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Al-Haja, an exiled leader of the group in Gaza and chief negotiator, had gradually become an increasingly important figure in Hamas's leadership after the deaths of Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran in July 2024.