Still Leading Hamas Negotiation Team, Al-Hayya Is Called To Hold The Key Role Under Sinwar Leadership

Khalil al Hayya Hamas (Source: IRNA)

JAKARTA - Hamas politician Khalil al-Hayya will continue to lead indirect negotiations of the ceasefire in Gaza with Israel with directions from the newly appointed group leader, Yahya Sinwar, who continues to carry out war efforts within the enclave, three Palestinian sources, including a Hamas official, said.

Hamas on Tuesday announced Yahya Sinwar as the new Head of Political Bureau replacing Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran, Iran last week.

The choice of Sinwar, which has been targeted by Israel, signifies Hamas' challenging stance as Gaza's war continues, handing leadership over to a man who is widely thought to have carried out the war from tunnels under the enclave.

Palestinian political experts have seen Hayya as the main candidate to replace Haniyeh, in part because of her good relationship with the group's main supporter, Iran, whose support will be very important for the movement to recover after the war.

Working under Haniyeh's supervision, Hayya has led the group's delegation in Israeli-mediated talks to secure a ceasefire and an Israeli hostage exchange deal with Palestinian prisoners.

"Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya is the head of the negotiating team and has not changed in this regard," the Hamas official said.

Another source familiar with Hamas' considerations said Hayya had won the trust of Haniyeh and Sinwar, saying she was expected to "continue to lead indirect negotiations and become the diplomatic face of the movement".

Both Hayya and Zaher West Java, who led Hamas in the West Bank from outside the Palestinian territories, "will play a bigger role in the future, also because the two have good relations with Iran and Hezbollah", said the source who declined to be named.

Hayya is the deputy leader of Hamas for Gaza, although she has played the role from outside the Palestinian territories for several years and lives in Qatar.

Yahya Sinwar himself has not appeared in public since the October 7 attacks, but has played a key role in directing military operations and negotiations for prisoner-restriction exchanges.

Sources familiar with Hamas' considerations said the message continued to be exchanged between group leaders abroad and Sinwar in the Gaza Strip, although this may take time to deliver.

Separately, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the Sinwar election underscored the weights given by Hamas to the Gaza Strip.

"This is also a message to the occupation (Israel), your murder of Haniyeh brings in opposite results," he said.