Hamas's new Political Bureau Chief Halil al-Hayye outlined the movement's six key priorities in his first speech on Wednesday. Al-Hayye stated that a comprehensive halt to Israeli attacks and a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip were at the top of the list.
Al-Hayye was elected to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership on Monday. Succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in October 2024, Al-Hayye called on mediating countries to pressure the Israeli government to implement the reached agreement and move to the next phase.
Second and third priorities: Humanitarian life and national unity
Al-Hayye said the second priority was to work for the restoration of dignified humanitarian life for Palestinians in Gaza, thwarting forced displacement plans, accelerating reconstruction, and securing the release of captives.
Stating that the third priority was to ensure the unity of the Palestinian people and launch a national dialogue for the reconstruction of Palestinian institutions, foremost the Palestine Liberation Organization, Al-Hayye called for 'urgent national dialogue and the reconstruction of the PLO on a democratic and consensual basis.'
Al-Hayye said, 'We extend our hand to all Palestinian components and forces; let us meet on a common word within the framework of an agreed-upon national program that includes realizing our people's priorities and goals. This stage cannot tolerate unilateralism or exclusion.'
Call to the Arab and Islamic world
Noting that the fourth priority was to strengthen the movement's relations with the Arab and Islamic sphere, Al-Hayye called on Arab and Islamic countries, as the fifth priority, to 'take effective action and exert pressure to stop the death and destruction machine against our people, and to assume their fraternal, historical, and religious responsibilities.'
Al-Hayye said, 'The rapid developments the region is witnessing prove the fact that the Palestinian people's attainment of stability, security, rights, freedom, and independence is the key to the security and stability of the entire region.'
Call for international accountability
Stating that the sixth priority was a demand from the international community and the United Nations for 'the protection of Palestinians and holding Israeli war criminals accountable,' Al-Hayye's speech coincided with the fragile ceasefire process ongoing in Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement, which entered into force on October 10, 2025, under the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey and the auspices of the US, includes a two-phase plan aimed at ending the Israeli attacks that lasted two years. However, Israel continued its violations through bombardment and gunfire, failing to comply with the agreement. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, 1,180 people were killed and 3,810 injured as of Wednesday.
At a meeting in Cairo on June 8, 2026, between mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey and Palestinian groups, a roadmap was discussed for completing the implementation of the agreement and advancing the second-phase negotiations.
