In First Message, New Hamas Chief Says Killings Will Not Break the Resistance
Khalil al-Hayya — who has lost several sons and survived repeated assassination attempts — tells Israel the movement fears neither the death of its children nor the martyrdom of its leaders
Khalil al-Hayya, the newly elected head of Hamas’s political bureau, has used his first message as leader to declare that the Palestinian resistance will not be intimidated by the killing of its sons or the martyrdom of its commanders.
“We tell the occupiers that we are the owners of a cause,” al-Hayya said. “Neither the killing of our children nor the martyrdom of our leaders will frighten us or instil fear in our hearts.”
The veteran leader was elected on Monday, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in October 2024. A close associate of Sinwar, al-Hayya had served as the movement’s chief negotiator during ceasefire talks and was regarded as a central figure after the deaths of both Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh.
A life marked by loss
Born in Gaza in 1960, al-Hayya has been part of Hamas since its founding in 1987 and holds a doctorate in Islamic studies. He served as Sinwar’s deputy and took over leadership of the movement in Gaza after Sinwar’s killing in October 2024, leading its delegations in indirect negotiations with Israel through mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
He assumes the leadership having survived repeated Israeli attempts on his life — and having paid a heavy personal price. In September 2025, he survived an Israeli strike on a meeting of Hamas leaders in Doha that killed five lower-ranking members, among them one of his sons. In 2007, an airstrike on his family home killed eight relatives. Two more of his sons were killed in earlier Israeli attacks, and a fourth in a strike in Gaza this May, while another son, Hamza, a field commander in the Qassam Brigades, was killed in clashes in 2008.
He takes over at a time of intense Israeli aggression against Gaza, as Hamas continues to resist the occupation.
Reference: PressTv