Son of Hamas Negotiator Khalil al-Hayya Dies After Israeli Strike, Raising Ceasefire Risks

Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s lead negotiator in talks on postwar plans for Gaza, has lost a son after an Israeli airstrike, according to media reports. The death came as Hamas leaders were in Cairo discussing how to preserve the ceasefire and handle the next phase of negotiations, potentially complicating mediation efforts.

On May 7, Reuters and other media outlets reported that senior Hamas official Basem Naim said al-Hayya’s son, Azam al-Hayya, died that day after being wounded in an Israeli attack the previous night.

Khalil al-Hayya has served as Hamas’s chief negotiator in U.S.-mediated talks on postwar arrangements for Gaza. Reuters said the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is the fourth time one of al-Hayya’s sons has been killed in an Israeli attack. His other sons were reported killed in the Gaza wars in 2008 and 2014, and in an Israeli strike last year.

The latest attack came while Hamas leaders were in Cairo meeting regional and international mediators to try to keep the Gaza ceasefire in place. Hamas officials, including al-Hayya, have been discussing a framework for talks on maintaining the truce with Israel, Gaza’s future governance and disarmament.

Hamas says Israel is undermining the first phase of a U.S.-led peace plan for Gaza. The group says talks on later phases can begin only after Israel carries out its initial commitments, including withdrawing from Gaza and halting military attacks.

The death of a family member of a key negotiator could further chill the atmosphere for talks. It could also strengthen hard-line voices within Hamas as mediators seek to keep follow-up negotiations alive.

Clashes have continued in Gaza even after the ceasefire that began in October 2025. Reuters reported that more than 830 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the truce took effect.

Kim Dae-young, Hankyung.com reporter, kdy@hankyung.com