Hamas' newly elected Political Bureau chief Khalil al-Hayya announced the movement's six key priorities in his first speech. At the top of al-Hayya's list is the demand for a complete halt to Israeli attacks and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Al-Hayya, who took office on Monday, replaced Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in Rafah in October 2024. In his speech, he called on mediator countries to pressure the Israeli government to implement the reached agreement and move to the next phase.
Ending the humanitarian crisis and emphasis on national unity
Al-Hayya stated that the second priority is restoring a dignified life for Palestinians in Gaza, preventing forced displacement plans, reconstruction, and the release of prisoners.
The third priority is achieving Palestinian unity and launching a national dialogue to rebuild institutions, foremost the Palestine Liberation Organization. Al-Hayya said, 'We extend our hand to all Palestinian components,' calling for a meeting on common ground within the framework of an agreed national program.
Expects concrete steps from the Arab and Islamic world
The fourth priority was listed as strengthening the movement's relations with the Arab and Islamic world. In the fifth point, al-Hayya called on Arab and Islamic countries to 'take effective action' and assume their fraternal and historical responsibilities to stop attacks on the Palestinian people.
Al-Hayya said, 'The Palestinian people's attainment of their rights is the key to security and stability for the entire region.'
Demand for accountability from the international community
The sixth and final priority was announced as a demand from the international community and the United Nations for 'the protection of Palestinians and accountability for Israeli war criminals.'
Al-Hayya's remarks came amid the fragile ceasefire process in Gaza. The agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey under US auspices and effective October 10, 2025, aimed to end two years of attacks. However, Israel has continued violations through bombardment and gunfire, failing to comply with the agreement. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as of Wednesday, 1,180 people have been killed and 3,810 wounded in these violations.
On June 8, 2026, mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey and Palestinian groups met in Cairo to discuss a roadmap for completing the implementation of the agreement and advancing second-phase negotiations.
