The Palestinian armed group Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, according to a statement. He replaces Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli military in Gaza in October 2024. In September 2025, the 65-year-old survived an Israeli air strike that targeted a meeting of Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, Doha. Five lower-level members of the group, including one of his sons, were killed along with a member of Qatar's security forces. Hayya's election as head of Hamas's political bureau followed two rounds of voting, with members apparently split between competing visions for the future direction of the group.