Gazans react to the killings of Hamas terror leaders
Ex-political prisoner and activists says persons are pissed off with Hamas management after Israel’s killing of senior commanders, as many residents say civilians — not Hamas leaders — have paid the value of the struggle (Credit score: Jusoor Information)
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An previous hand very acquainted to Israel has emerged as the brand new political chief of Hamas following a secret insider election that took months to unfold, and one regional skilled stated the event indicators the terrorist group won’t be charting a brand new course.
Khalil al-Hayya, who has been a key negotiator for Hamas and who has survived a number of alleged assassination makes an attempt, will now lead the group’s political bureau. However Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Jaser AbuMousa instructed Fox Information Digital his election just isn’t precisely a passing of the torch.
“Count on extra of the identical, intentionally,” AbuMousa stated. “Al-Hayya is Hamas’s chief negotiator and its final institutional survivor, so you may see continued engagement on the negotiating desk, ceasefire talks, prisoner exchanges, however don’t mistake that for moderation.”
Al-Hayya, Hamas’ longtime chief negotiator in oblique ceasefire and hostage talks with Israel, will now lead its political bureau. (Louai Beshara/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
“Al-Hayya’s victory is finest understood as an act of institutional self-preservation: a battered group reaching for probably the most acquainted hand obtainable,” AbuMousa warned. “He’s an skilled operator, and his elevation indicators that Hamas, after the destruction of Gaza and the losses since Oct. 7, 2023, has prioritized organizational cohesion, armed continuity, and the preservation of its Iranian relationship over a real political reassessment.”
A number of members of al-Hayya’s household, together with 4 sons and different relations, have additionally been killed in Israeli operations, in accordance to reports.
In September 2025, Israel reportedly sought to kill al-Hayya in Qatar, placing a constructing the place the Hamas delegation was staying.
“That is the paradox of Hamas management proper now: the highest job is actually a demise sentence, which is a part of why the chair sat empty for almost two years after Sinwar was killed,” the skilled stated.
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Analysts say Al-Hayya’s elevation indicators that Hamas, after the destruction of Gaza and the losses since Oct. 7, 2023, has prioritized organizational cohesion, armed continuity, and the preservation of its Iranian relationship. (Iranian Chief Press Workplace / Handout/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures)
“Al-Hayya himself additionally survived the Israeli strike in Doha final September. For an peculiar govt, that might be disqualifying,” he famous. “Inside Hamas it is the other — surviving assassination is a credential.”
“Count on him to cleared the path his predecessors did: hardly ever in public, shifting between Doha and mediating capitals, speaking by statements and negotiators relatively than appearances, with the actual command decentralized so no single strike decapitates the motion,” AbuMousa continued. “A company that rewards who has suffered most, relatively than who has led finest, has no actual mechanism to right course after a disaster like this one. That is what ought to make anybody nervous.”
“Al-Hayya misplaced his 4 sons, which is an actual and profound loss for any father. However two issues might be true without delay,” he famous. “His private grief is real, and inside Hamas that sacrifice additionally features as political capital that lifts him above criticism.”
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Al-Hayya changed Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in late 2024. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures)
Whereas Al-Hayya changed Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024, his rise to energy adopted a secret election that stretched over months.
“After the near-total destruction of Gaza and staggering losses since Oct. 7, Hamas had a second to reassess, and it selected continuity as an alternative,” AbuMousa stated. “It elevated a loyal survivor tied to Iran and the army wing relatively than somebody providing a distinct path.”
“The true story,” in keeping with AbuMousa, “is that Hamas determined its most secure wager was to stay precisely what it was: armed, aligned with Tehran, and unwilling to reckon with the place its personal choices led Gaza.”
He additionally cautioned towards viewing the management vote as a mandate from Gazans.
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“This was a closed vote by a management council, not an election by the roughly 2 million Gazans whose lives Hamas claims to characterize and who have not voted since 2006. A lot of them blame Hamas for exposing them to this disaster,” he stated.
“And watch the doubtless governance mannequin: not a return to working Gaza brazenly, however a Hezbollah-style arrangement the place Hamas sheds seen duty whereas protecting its weapons, its safety constructions, and a veto over any political deal,” he added.
