How will Khalil al-Hayya’s leadership shape Hamas?

What the report says

Al Jazeera’s Inside Story examined the appointment of Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of Hamas, asking how his leadership may affect the Palestinian group during a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The programme, published on July 21, 2026, said al-Hayya had been part of a five-member council that ran Hamas for nearly two years before being named to the top post.

According to Al Jazeera, al-Hayya has been connected to Hamas since its founding about four decades ago. The outlet said he has survived several Israeli attempts to kill him, has been detained multiple times, and more recently led Palestinian delegations in negotiations aimed at ending Israel’s war on Gaza.

The leadership change comes as Hamas faces mounting pressure to give up power, while Gaza remains under severe strain. Al Jazeera reported that more than two million Palestinians are still experiencing near-daily Israeli attacks despite the existence of a formal ceasefire, underscoring the difficult conditions in which al-Hayya is taking charge.

The programme was hosted by James Bays and featured Ibrahim Fraihat of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Muhammad Shehada of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Max Rodenbeck of the International Crisis Group. The discussion focused on whether al-Hayya can manage internal and external pressures, including the group’s political direction, ceasefire demands and conditions on the ground in Gaza.