The election of Khalil al-Hayya as the new leader of Hamas has drawn mixed reactions from Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
According to Al Jazeera on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Al-Hayya’s victory over Khaled Meshaal in the group’s internal leadership election was met with a subdued response from most residents, who are now primarily focused on survival amid the prolonged humanitarian crisis.
For many people in Gaza, the internal political dynamics of Hamas leadership are no longer a top priority.
As they continue to endure what they describe as the consequences of the genocide carried out by the Israeli military since October 7, 2023, residents are more concerned with securing food, clean water, adequate shelter, and protecting their lives from ongoing airstrikes.
“Whether Al-Hayya wins or someone else, it makes no difference to us. We want someone who is loyal to the nation, honest, and stands with the people who are suffering,” said Noman Saleh, a 63-year-old Gaza resident who lost his factory during the war, as quoted by Al Jazeera on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
Desperation
The Gaza Strip has been left almost completely devastated by Israel’s military offensive and the strict blockade that has severely restricted the flow of essential goods into the territory.
The situation has created a deep crisis of trust between civilians and the political factions operating in Gaza.
Many residents feel abandoned as they struggle through increasingly difficult daily living conditions.
A similar sense of despair is shared by Ali Abu Amshi, a 28-year-old man who lost 22 family members in military attacks.
He said the prolonged humanitarian crisis has eroded public interest in the political power struggle within the isolated territory.
“This news makes no difference to us. We just want to live. We want the border crossings reopened so we can eat, drink, and have a normal life. Whoever governs, all we want is to live,” Abu Amshi said.
Obstacles
On the other hand, political analysts and local journalists view Al-Hayya’s election as a strong political signal to the international community.
They believe Hamas deliberately chose a figure who was directly involved in the leadership circle during the events of October 7, 2023, to demonstrate the group’s continued commitment to its political position and resistance against Israel’s military occupation.
The decision comes amid Hamas’ previously announced plan for a political transition.
The group had stated its intention to dissolve its governing administration and transfer the management of Gaza to an independent technocratic body known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
However, the transition to a technocratic administration has yet to materialize.
The Israeli government continues to prevent members of the NCAG from entering the Gaza Strip.
As a result, the transitional administrative committee has been forced to operate on a limited basis from its temporary headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Growing Pessimism
The public’s muted response to the leadership election underscores the widening gap between Gaza’s residents and the political faction that has governed the territory since 2007.
Political analysts in Gaza believe that the cumulative effects of relentless bombing, forced displacement, and the destruction of public infrastructure have created a profound crisis of public confidence.
Many residents no longer place their hopes in political promises or changes within the leadership.
Instead, their greatest wish is for the bloodshed to end, for unrestricted access to international humanitarian aid to be restored, and for the return of a dignified and secure life in their homeland.
Meanwhile, with uncertainty over the future and ongoing physical suffering continuing to weigh heavily on the civilian population, many people in Gaza have chosen to focus simply on surviving each day in the hope of a more peaceful tomorrow.***
