Khalil al-Hayya elected Head of Hamas’s political bureau

Pars Today — The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has announced the appointment of Khalil al-Hayya as the head of its political bureau.

According to Pars Today, citing Iran’s state broadcaster, al-Hayya was elected as the new head of Hamas’s political bureau with 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, who received 34 votes.

Khalil al-Hayya, a veteran Hamas leader, was born in Gaza City in 1960. He is considered one of the movement’s early members following its establishment in 1987. He pursued his studies at the Islamic University of Gaza, the University of Jordan, and the University of the Holy Quran and Islamic Sciences.

Since 2006, al-Hayya has represented Gaza in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In recent years, he has served as deputy head of Hamas’s political bureau and as the movement’s political chief in the Gaza Strip.

He also headed Hamas’s negotiating team in ceasefire and prisoner-exchange talks and was regarded as one of the movement’s key figures in negotiations with mediators such as Qatar and Egypt.