Al Jazeera reported that Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new chief of its Political Bureau,
The movement announced the results of its internal elections on Monday, with al-Hayya receiving 35 votes to succeed former Political Bureau chief Martyr Yahya Sinwar. Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas’ external office and a former Political Bureau chief, received 34 votes.
Following Sinwar’s martyrdom, Hamas formed a temporary leadership council to oversee the movement’s affairs during the war. The election of al-Hayya marks the restoration of the movement’s formal political leadership structure.
Al-Hayya is one of Hamas’ senior leaders and led the movement’s negotiating delegation during the Gaza war. He previously served as a member of Hamas’ Political Bureau and was responsible for its Arab and Islamic relations.