Hamas appoints Khalil al-Hayya as new overall leader after Yahya Sinwar's death

A senior official of the Palestinian armed group Hamas has been appointed as the new chief negotiator based in Qatar, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces during a 2024 operation in Gaza. The appointment was announced by Hamas’s political bureau on Monday, naming senior operative Khaled Al‑Mansour as the replacement to lead diplomatic outreach from Doha.

Al‑Mansour inherits a role that has been central to Hamas’s indirect talks with Israel, mediated through Qatar and other regional actors, aimed at negotiating ceasefires, prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid corridors. The change follows intensified Israeli military activity that resulted in Sinwar’s death and a subsequent shift in the group’s leadership structure. Observers note that the continuity of a Qatar‑based negotiator signals Hamas’s intent to maintain existing diplomatic channels despite the heightened conflict, while Qatar has reiterated its commitment to facilitating dialogue. The appointment is expected to shape forthcoming negotiations as both sides navigate the aftermath of the 2024 hostilities.