Hamas spokesperson Basim Naim announced today that Azzam Al-Hayya was killed, a day after leader Khalil Al-Hayya confirmed his son was severely wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.
Hayya accused Israel of hindering negotiation efforts, currently mediated by the Peace Council led by US President Donald Trump. "These attacks and ceasefire violations by Israel indicate they do not wish to adhere to the agreement, nor properly implement the conditions of phase one," he stated.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not commented on the information. The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli official sources, stated that Azzam Al-Hayya was not their intended target in Gaza City.
Khalil Al-Hayya is Hamas' chief negotiator in US-mediated discussions regarding the future of Gaza. Hamas leaders and other Palestinian factions are currently in dialogue in Egypt with mediators and Nickolay Mladenov, President Trump's special envoy responsible for the Peace Council.
Before Azzam, Hayya had three children killed in Israeli attacks. The most recent instance occurred in 2025, when the Israeli army killed Hamas leaders meeting in Qatar. Hayya escaped death, but one of his sons was among the 6 people killed. Two other sons of Hayya were killed in attacks in Gaza in 2008 and 2014, both believed to be connected to assassination attempts against him.
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Smoke and dust rise as the Mushtaha tower is attacked in Gaza City in 9/2025. *AFP*
Hayya lives in exile outside the Gaza Strip and serves as Hamas' acting political leader. He is considered the most influential member of the five-member leadership council, a structure established after leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar were killed in 2024.
Hamas held a vote to elect a new political leader on 2/5, with Hayya as one of two key candidates, but the results have not been announced.
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Khalil al-Hayya at his office in Gaza City in 2021. *AFP*
A peace restoration agreement for the Gaza Strip was agreed upon by Israel and Hamas in 10/2025. This agreement includes phase one: a ceasefire and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area. The reconstruction phase for the territory can begin when Hamas agrees to disarm.
At least 830 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the ceasefire agreement took effect.
By Thanh Danh, with reporting from Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post, and Reuters.
