Hamas designates Hayya to lead Gaza talks under Sinwar: sources

Hamas politician Khalil al-Hayya is set to continue leading indirect negotiations with Israel for a Gaza ceasefire with guidance from the group's newly appointed leader, Yahya Sinwar, who continues to run the war effort inside the enclave, three Palestinian sources including a Hamas official said.

Hamas announced on Tuesday that it had picked Sinwar as its overall leader, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, whom Israel assassinated in Iran last month.

"Dr. Khail Al-Hayya is the head of the negotiation team and there is no change to this," the Hamas official said.

Another source familiar with Hamas deliberations said Hayya had enjoyed the trust of both Haniyeh and Sinwar and said it was expected that he would "continue to lead the indirect negotiations and be the diplomatic face of the movement".

Both Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, who leads Hamas in the West Bank from outside the Palestinian territories, "will play a bigger role in the future, also as both have good relations with Iran and Hezbollah", the source said.

The sources declined to be identified because of political sensitivities.

Hayya is Hamas' deputy leader for Gaza, though he has performed the role from outside the Palestinian territories for several years and resides in Qatar.

Sinwar has not appeared in public since the Oct. 7 attacks but has played a key role in directing military operations and the negotiations for a hostage exchange deal.

The source familiar with Hamas deliberations said messages continued to be exchanged back and forth between the group's leaders abroad and Sinwar in the Gaza Strip, though these may take time to deliver.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Sinwar's selection underscored the weight given by Hamas to the Gaza Strip.

"It is also a message to the (Israeli) occupation that your assassination of Haniyeh brought about counter results," he said.

(Reuters)