Khalil al-Hayya Elected New Hamas Leader in Close Vote
Khalil al-Hayya, a Gaza-born hardliner and close confidant of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, has been elected as the new head of Hamas by a narrow 35-34 vote in the Shura Council, defeating more pragmatic rival Khaled Mashal. The 65-year-old, who has lived in exile in Qatar, is seen as a directional choice favoring armed struggle and closer ties with Iran. Al-Hayya survived numerous Israeli assassination attempts and lost 17 relatives, including two sons, in Israeli strikes. He previously met with US President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Egypt, bonding over their deceased sons. The article notes that ideologically, little change is expected under al-Hayya, who is close to Hamas's armed Qassam Brigades. The implementation of Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza remains stalled as Hamas rejects disarmament and Israel continues military operations.
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