DaysofPal – In his inaugural televised address as the newly elected leader of Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya pledged to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip, secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and pursue a unified Palestinian state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Speaking from a podium flanked by the Palestinian and Hamas flags, al-Hayya vowed that Palestinians would resist all attempts to forcibly displace them from Gaza. He also expressed appreciation for regional countries working to end Israel’s ongoing war on the enclave and called for greater international pressure to enforce the October 2025 ceasefire agreement.
Al-Hayya was elected head of Hamas’ political bureau by the movement’s General Shura Council on Monday, defeating former political chief Khaled Meshaal in a runoff vote. He succeeds Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024. Since Sinwar’s death, Hamas had been led by a five-member ruling council that included al-Hayya.
Commitment to a Unified Palestinian State
Al-Hayya reaffirmed Hamas’ commitment to establishing a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital, describing it as the movement’s foremost objective.
“Our first and foremost commitment is to continue on the same path, carrying the banner high until it flies over Al-Aqsa Mosque and the lands of a free and proud Palestine,” he said.
He also addressed Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank, describing Jerusalem as “the compass and the heart of our struggle” and pledging continued support for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
A central focus of al-Hayya’s speech was Gaza’s reconstruction following the widespread devastation caused by Israel’s military campaign.
He praised the resilience of Gaza’s residents, acknowledging the immense hardship they continue to endure after months of bombardment and displacement.
“You live in tents and makeshift shelters, with the earth as your bed and the sky as your blanket,” he said. “How many days have passed without you finding sustenance or food to comfort your weeping children?”
Al-Hayya pledged that Hamas would work to restore a dignified life for Gaza’s residents while opposing any plans aimed at permanently displacing Palestinians from the territory.
He stressed that rebuilding Gaza is “an inherent right of our people, not a gift or favor from anyone,” adding that reconstruction should not be tied to political concessions or negotiations.
“We will continue working in every way possible until we alleviate your suffering and restore to Gaza the dignified life that befits its resilient people,” he said.
Prisoners and the Palestinian Cause
Al-Hayya also vowed to intensify efforts to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
Paying tribute to generations of Palestinian resistance, he said Palestinians had remained steadfast despite decades of occupation and displacement.
“Our people have affirmed, generation after generation, that they will never relinquish or forget their land and rights,” he said. “No right is ever lost as long as there are those who demand it.”
He added that Hamas would continue working to “free the prisoners, end their suffering, and provide them with a life befitting their sacrifices.”
Addressing the broader Middle East, al-Hayya argued that lasting regional stability cannot be achieved without justice for the Palestinian people.
“The stability of the Palestinian people is the key to the stability of the region,” he said, adding that international claims of justice lose their credibility if the people of Gaza are left without protection.
Appeal to Mediators
Al-Hayya thanked Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye for their mediation efforts aimed at ending Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. While he did not mention the United States by name, he urged all countries involved in the ceasefire negotiations to pressure Israel to implement the terms of the U.S.-backed agreement reached in October 2025.
He called on the guarantors of the negotiations to “exert real pressure on the occupation government to implement what has been agreed upon.”
Concluding his address, al-Hayya expressed confidence that Palestinians would ultimately achieve their goals through perseverance, unity, and continued international solidarity.
“Together, alongside the sincere members of our people, our nation, and the free people of the world who have stood with Gaza and consider it a symbol of humanity, liberation, and resistance against injustice, we are capable of achieving this,” he said.
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