Current sectionGaza NewsAccording to a Saudi report, al-Hayya defeated Khaled Meshal by one vote in elections held by Hamas' Central Shura Council. Al-Hayya met with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in his role as Hamas' chief negotiatorShare to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJack Khoury05:38 PM • July 20 2026 IDTKhalil al-Hayya has been elected chairman of Hamas' political bureau and overall leader of the group, Hamas said Monday, replacing Yahya Sinwar, who was assassinated by Israel in 2024.Loading...Click the alert icon to follow topics:HamasKhaled MeshalGaza Yahya SinwarCommentsLoading...In the NewsIn the News: Live UpdatesMamdani-NetanyahuResettle GazaU.S.-IranStrait of HormuzIsrael Elections2026 World CupHaQuizHaaretz PodcastDespite Pledging Nearly $100M, Israel's Standing Abroad Continued to DeclineDemocrats Party Block Right-wing Channel 14 From Covering Primary Night EventIDF Kills Two Palestinians in Raid on West Bank Town as Settlers Steal LivestockHungary's PM Magyar to Offer Presidency to Jewish Chess Legend Judit PolgarIsrael's AG Urges High Court Action Over Ben-Gvir's Police InterferenceRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIThe Most Optimistic Israeli in Jerusalem Is Leaving the CountryAs Ground Invasion Looms, U.S. and Iran Want Wild-card Israel Out of the FightNetanyahu's Biggest Challenger: Who Is Gadi Eisenkot and What Does He Stand For?Democrats Rejected U.S. Aid to Israel, and AIPAC Couldn't Stop Them103 House Democrats Vote to Cut U.S. Aid to Israel in Landmark Symbolic VoteBetween Messi and Milei: How Argentina Became Israel's Team at the World Cup