How will Khalil al-Hayya’s leadership shape Hamas?
Newly named Hamas leader al-Hayya faces pressure to cede power amid Gaza's fragile ceasefire.
The video runs for 27 minutes and 50 seconds.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Hamas, as the group navigates a fragile ceasefire and internal pressures.
Al-Hayya, recently appointed as Hamas leader, is under pressure to relinquish authority as Gaza's tenuous ceasefire holds.
He was a member of a five-man council that led Hamas for almost two years.
Khalil al-Hayya has taken the helm of the Palestinian group, which he joined at its founding four decades ago.
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He’s survived a number of Israeli assassination attempts and been detained many times.
More recently, he led Palestinian delegations in negotiations to end Israel’s war on Gaza.
Al-Hayya takes control as Hamas comes under increasing pressure to cede power – and as more than two million Palestinians are still enduring near-daily Israeli attacks, despite a formal ceasefire.
So, how will Hamas’s new leader navigate the realities on the ground?
Presenter: James Bays
Guests:
Ibrahim Fraihat – Professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
Muhammad Shehada – Senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
Max Rodenbeck – Israel/Palestine Project Director at the International Crisis Group
Published On 21 Jul 202621 Jul 2026
Al-Hayya's leadership will be tested by both internal Hamas dynamics and external Israeli military operations. The ceasefire, while formal, has not stopped near-daily attacks, leaving the Palestinian population in a precarious state. Observers will watch whether al-Hayya can maintain unity within the group while pursuing negotiations.
Original source: Al Jazeera
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