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Khalil al-Hayya, and the new leader of Hamas, has given a televised address to the “stable and patient people of Palestine”, promising to rebuild Gaza and alleviate the suffering of its people, political prisoners who have been released from Israel, and unite Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem in one “free and proud Palestine”.
Speaking from the lectern in a suit jacket and shirt with an open neck, with the Palestinian and Hamas flags behind him, al-Hayya said in his speech on Wednesday with Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV that the group will reject efforts to force Palestinians to leave Gaza, and thanked the countries that are trying to end the Israeli war.
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Al-Hajja was chosen and the General Shura Council on Monday as the new head of the Hamas political office, coming ahead of former political chief Khaled Meshaal in a runoff vote.
He replaced the former leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024. Between the killing of Sinwar and the election of al-Hayya, Hamas was led by a five-member governing body, of which al-Hayya was a member.
In his televised address, he called for an end to Israel’s violence in Gaza, and outlined the demands of Hamas.
Here are the main points from his address:
He reaffirmed the goal of a united Palestinian state
Al-Hayya said the main goal of Hamas is to achieve a Palestinian state including Gaza and the West Bank occupied by Israel, with its capital in East Jerusalem. This has been the group’s goal since the revised document was published in 2017.
“Our first commitment is to continue in the same way, carrying the flag high and waving, until it flies above the Al-Aqsa mosque and the free and proud Palestinian territories, which are free and honest among all the armies and groups of our people and its righteous children fought and fought,” said al-Hayya.
He addressed Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank in his speech.
“Greetings to our people in captured Jerusalem, the compass and heart of our war, and to its Al-Aqsa mosque, its minas, and its churches,” he said.
“And hello to a stable West Bank… This West Bank, which the enemy wants to take over is Judaism, is a responsibility and a trust that has been placed on our shoulders as long as we live.”
He promised that Gaza would be rebuilt
Al-Hayya expressed “heartfelt greetings and steadfast loyalty to our patient and steadfast people in Gaza, a proud country”. He said the Palestinians in Gaza will not be expelled, and promised that Hamas will work to solve the problems of the people living in the area, and eventually rebuild it.
“The people of Gaza, my family and my people, with whom I have spent my life, we know you, and you know us. We understand how much you have suffered and continue to suffer, and the wounds you have faced,” said al-Hayya.
“You live in tents and camps, with the earth as your bed, and the sky as your blanket, how many days have passed without finding food, or food to comfort your crying children?
“One of the things we need is to restore a dignified life to our people in Gaza, to prevent all the schemes that are being planned, especially those that want to move, and to speed up and rebuild, because this is the right of our people, not a gift or a favor to anyone, and it cannot be linked to trade, concessions, or political positions.
Al-Hayya assured the Palestinian people that Hamas “will continue to work in all ways and means, until we alleviate your suffering and pain, and restore to Gaza the dignified life it deserves for its beloved, brave, and patient people, until we see again the beautiful, shining Gaza we once knew”.
He vowed that the prisoners would be released
Al-Hayya praised the history of Palestinian resistance against occupation through several uprisings over the years.
“I salute our patient, brave and courageous Palestinian people, who have remained in their homeland and are clinging to their freedom,” he said.
“Generations and generations, in Palestine, in refugee camps, and in other countries, have proven that our people are steadfast opponents who will not abandon or forget their place and their rights.
Al-Hayya said Hamas “will work to free the prisoners, end their suffering, and give them a life worthy of their struggle and sacrifice”.
He said regional peace requires fair treatment of the Palestinian people
The Middle East cannot be free of conflict until the Palestinians are treated with justice, al-Hayya said.
“What the region is seeing proves that the stability of the Palestinian people is the key to regional stability,” he said.
Speaking to the international community, al-Khalil said “the measure of justice falls if you fail to protect the people of Gaza”.
Al-Hayya thanked the countries that have tried to mediate and end the Israeli war, although he did not mention the United States.
“We appreciate the role of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar and Turkey who are working to stop the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
He called on mediators and other countries around the world to pressure Israel into complying with the US-backed October 2025 “ceasefire,” which Israel largely ignored.
He called on “countries supporting the negotiations to put more pressure on the government to implement the agreed terms”.
Al-Hayya said that with perseverance and determination, and with the worldwide sympathy for the people living in Gaza, the Palestinian people have achieved their goals.
“We are sure that together, with the dedicated work of the honest members of our people, our country, and the free people of the world who stood by Gaza and see it as a symbol of humanity, liberation, and resistance to injustice, we can achieve this,” said al-Hayya.
