Hamas veteran leader Khaled Meshaal has steered the group’s political bureau from exile since the late 1990s, guiding strategy and diplomacy amid multiple wars and ceasefire talks.
Qatar's late Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has reshaped the nation's role through Gaza and Lebanon gestures, rebuilding aid, and a pivot to independent media and foreign policy that broadened regional influence.
Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, succeeding Yahya Sinwar who was killed in 2024. Al-Hayya’s appointment comes amid Gaza’s war-torn context, with the movement restructuring its leadership after a series of Israeli offensives and internal upheavals. His background spans Gaza, exile, diplomacy, and long-standing ties to Tehran, with a track record in ceasefire negotiations and prisoner exchanges.