Qatar Disappointed by Election of al-Hayya as Hamas Head, Punishes the Organization

Qatar was disappointed by Hamas's choice of Khalil al-Hayya as head of the political bureau, after it had pushed for Khaled Mashal to be appointed. In response, Qatari security mechanisms restricted the movements of Hamas's leadership in Doha. Al-Hayya, who is close to Iran, entered a role that had been vacant since the elimination of Sinwar.

Qatar was disappointed by Hamas's decision to choose Khalil al-Hayya as the organization's leader, after it had exerted behind-the-scenes pressure for Khaled Mashal to receive the role. This was reported this evening (Tuesday) in the Kan News broadcast. Al-Hayya belongs to the Iranian axis, while Mashal sees himself as part of the axis of Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. Palestinian sources told Kan News that following al-Hayya's election, Qatar decided to punish Hamas. Qatari security mechanisms restricted the movements of Hamas's leadership in its territory, requiring them to obtain approval for any reception or official meeting that the organization's leaders hold in the capital Doha. Hamas announced its choice of al-Hayya for the role of head of the political bureau about two weeks ago. He entered a role that had remained unfilled since the elimination of Yahya Sinwar in October 2024. Sinwar himself entered the role after the elimination of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh. The political bureau is a leadership council that manages the organization's political affairs. In May, Azzam, the son of Khalil al-Hayya, was eliminated in an Israeli strike in Gaza City. Azzam is the fourth son of al-Hayya to be killed by IDF fire. His twin brother, Hammam, was eliminated in the failed strike in Doha, in which Israel attempted to eliminate the organization's top leadership.