Khalil al-Hayya, the newly elected Hamas leader, speaks during an earlier interview. The veteran political figure has led the movement's negotiating team in indirect ceasefire talks involving Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

NNA News - Hamas has appointed veteran official Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader following an internal election held across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Israeli prisons and the Palestinian diaspora, the Palestinian group announced on Monday. The appointment concludes nearly nine months of interim collective leadership after former Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Rafah in October last year. During that period, the movement was led by a five-member council headed by Shura Council chairman Muhammad Ismail Darwish.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel, Hamas described the vote as an "institutional consultative process" carried out under difficult wartime conditions. "This is not a mere procedural detail, but a confirmation that Hamas is a movement governed by its institutions and shura, and bound by its systems and regulations," the group said. Hamas said the election took place amid what it described as "extremely complex security and political conditions", citing Israel's military campaign and what it called the "systematic targeting of its leadership, cadres, and people both inside and outside Palestine."

Al-Hayya, 65, was born in Gaza in 1960 and joined Hamas when it was established in 1987 after meeting the group's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, several years earlier. He was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 and has since become one of the movement's most senior political figures. Based in Doha in recent years, al-Hayya has led Hamas delegations in indirect ceasefire negotiations involving Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

His influence within the movement grew after several senior Hamas leaders were killed, including political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Yahya Sinwar in Gaza and military commander Mohammed Deif. Following those developments, al-Hayya joined the interim leadership council and later headed Hamas's negotiating team during ceasefire discussions in 2025. Hamas said its immediate priorities under the new leadership include ending Israel's military offensive in Gaza, lifting the blockade, facilitating humanitarian and medical assistance, advancing reconstruction efforts and opposing proposals to displace Palestinians.

Khalil al-Hayya, newly elected leader of Hamas, meets Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a previous visit to Tehran. Hamas announced al-Hayya's appointment following an internal election held across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Israeli prisons and the Palestinian diaspora.

The movement also paid tribute to several of its deceased leaders, including Haniyeh, Sinwar, Deif and Saleh al-Arouri. There was no immediate response from the Israeli government following the announcement. Speaking to Al Jazeera English, correspondent Nour Odeh said Israeli officials generally regard al-Hayya as a hardliner. "In Israel, al-Hayya is described as 'a hawk'... someone who is closer to Iran than to the Arab governments, even Turkey," Odeh said, adding that his appointment could influence the direction of future negotiations.

The appointment comes as the war in Gaza continues and international efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire remain ongoing. South Africa has brought a case before the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation Israel strongly denies. The case remains before the court.