Khalil Al-Hayya has emerged as Hamas’s most prominent leader abroad since the deaths of Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar.
Israeli officials confirmed Tuesday’s strike in Doha targeted top Hamas figures, including Hayya, the group’s exiled Gaza chief.
Hamas sources told Reuters its negotiation team in Qatar survived the attack.
Influential Abroad Since 2024
Hayya rose to prominence after Haniyeh was killed in Iran in July 2024.
Following Sinwar’s assassination in Gaza last October, Hayya joined Hamas’s five-man leadership council.
He has since been central to ceasefire negotiations that began after the Gaza war erupted two years ago.
Veteran Fighter and Political Operator
Born in Gaza in 1960, Hayya joined the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1980s with Haniyeh and Sinwar.
He became a founding member of Hamas in 1987 and faced repeated detentions by Israel.
Hayya lost several family members in Israeli air strikes, including his eldest son Osama, killed with his wife and children in 2014.
In 2007, another Israeli strike destroyed his family home in Gaza City’s Sejaiyeh district, killing relatives.
Hayya eventually relocated to Qatar, becoming Hamas’s main link with Arab and Islamic governments.
Ties With Iran and Regional Powers
Hayya accompanied Haniyeh on his July 2024 Tehran trip, where Israel later assassinated the Hamas leader.
In 2022, Hayya led a Hamas delegation to Damascus to restore ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after a decade-long rupture.
Views on October 7 Attacks
Hayya has claimed Hamas intended the October 7 assault as a limited operation to capture Israeli soldiers for prisoner exchanges.
“The Zionist army unit completely collapsed,” he said, describing the surprise Hamas attack.
He argued the operation returned the Palestinian issue to global attention.
Role in Ceasefire Talks
Hayya has led Hamas’s negotiating delegations in mediated talks with Israel.
The proposed deals included exchanging Israeli captives for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
He continues to play a key role in efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal.
