Hamas elects Khalil al-Hayya as new political bureau chief

Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, replacing Yahya al-Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza a year after the October 7, 2023 attacks he helped orchestrate.

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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.

Hayya, a veteran member of Hamas since its founding in 1987, has been a key negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with Israel. He previously survived an assassination attempt in Doha last year, though one of his sons was killed in the strike. He defeated former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal in the leadership contest, with a senior Hamas official telling AFP that Hayya was elected by an "overwhelming majority."

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Khalil al-Hayya was elected by an overwhelming majority.

The election was conducted through a "highly complex and secretive mechanism" due to the difficult security situation and the assassination of leaders, according to a Hamas source. The movement's armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, has declared its full support for Hayya.

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

Hayya, who hails from the Gaza Strip, has lost several relatives to Israeli strikes. He has been involved in brokering truces with Israel, playing a significant role in ending past conflicts and attempting to secure an end to the current Gaza conflict. The political bureau is expected to meet in Istanbul soon to begin restructuring Hamas's leadership bodies.

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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.