Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan meets newly elected Hamas leader

Key facts

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Khalil al-Hayya, the new head of Hamas's political bureau.
• Al-Hayya briefed Fidan on Israeli attacks, settlement expansion, and holy site attacks.
• Fidan reaffirmed Turkey's support for the Palestinian cause and pledged increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
• Hamas elected al-Hayya as its new political bureau chief on July 20, 2026.
• Al-Hayya is based in Qatar and succeeds Yahya Sinwar.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Khalil al-Hayya, the newly elected head of Hamas's political bureau, and a delegation from the Palestinian group. During the meeting on Thursday, Fidan congratulated al-Hayya on his appointment. Al-Hayya briefed Fidan on Israel's ongoing attacks in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the acceleration of illegal settlement expansion, and intensified attacks on holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. He also outlined Hamas's efforts toward reconciliation between Palestinian factions and stated the group's commitment to a constructive role in peace negotiations.

Fidan reaffirmed Turkey's support for the Palestinian "just cause" in diplomatic and international forums, vowing to continue drawing global attention to Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. He also pledged to increase humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and maintain support for the peace process, praising Hamas's role in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

Al-Hayya was elected as the new head of Hamas's political bureau on July 20, 2026. He is based in Qatar and succeeds Yahya Sinwar, who took charge after Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in July 2024. Israeli forces reportedly killed Sinwar during fighting in Rafah three months later.