In a clandestine election process that unfolded over several months, an experienced figure known to Israel has been appointed as the new political head of Hamas. This development, according to one regional expert, indicates that there won’t be a shift in Hamas’s current strategies.

Khalil al-Hayya, noted for his vital role in negotiations for Hamas and his survival of numerous alleged assassination plots, has been elected to lead the organization’s political bureau. Jaser AbuMousa, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, conveyed to News Media that this election does not signal a change in direction for Hamas.

“Expect continuity in their approach,” stated AbuMousa. “Al-Hayya is a key figure in Hamas, known for his negotiation skills and resilience. The group will persist in engaging at negotiation platforms, orchestrating prisoner swaps, and discussing ceasefires, but these should not be seen as signs of moderation.”

“Al-Hayya’s victory is best understood as an act of institutional self-preservation: a battered organization reaching for the most familiar hand available,” AbuMousa warned. “He is an experienced operator, and his elevation signals that Hamas, after the destruction of Gaza and the losses since Oct. 7, 2023, has prioritized organizational cohesion, armed continuity, and the preservation of its Iranian relationship over a genuine political reassessment.”

Several members of al-Hayya’s family, including four sons and other relatives, have also been killed in Israeli operations, according to reports.

In September 2025, Israel reportedly sought to kill al-Hayya in Qatar, striking a building where the Hamas delegation was staying.

“This is the paradox of Hamas leadership right now: the top job is essentially a death sentence, which is part of why the chair sat empty for nearly two years after Sinwar was killed,” the expert said.

“Al-Hayya himself also survived the Israeli strike in Doha last September. For an ordinary executive, that would be disqualifying,” he noted. “Inside Hamas it’s the opposite — surviving assassination is a credential.”

“Expect him to lead the way his predecessors did: rarely in public, moving between Doha and mediating capitals, communicating through statements and negotiators rather than appearances, with the real command decentralized so no single strike decapitates the movement,” AbuMousa continued. “An organization that rewards who has suffered most, rather than who has led best, has no real mechanism to correct course after a catastrophe like this one. That’s what should make anyone nervous.”

“Al-Hayya lost his four sons, which is a real and profound loss for any father. But two things can be true at once,” he noted. “His personal grief is genuine, and inside Hamas that sacrifice also functions as political capital that lifts him above criticism.”

While Al-Hayya replaced Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024, his rise to power followed a secret election that stretched over months.

“After the near-total destruction of Gaza and staggering losses since Oct. 7, Hamas had a moment to reassess, and it chose continuity instead,” AbuMousa said. “It elevated a loyal survivor tied to Iran and the military wing rather than someone offering a different path.”

“The real story,” according to AbuMousa, “is that Hamas decided its safest bet was to remain exactly what it was: armed, aligned with Tehran, and unwilling to reckon with where its own decisions led Gaza.”

He also cautioned against viewing the leadership vote as a mandate from Gazans.

“This was a closed vote by a leadership council, not an election by the roughly 2 million Gazans whose lives Hamas claims to represent and who haven’t voted since 2006. Many of them blame Hamas for exposing them to this catastrophe,” he said.

“And watch the likely governance model: not a return to running Gaza openly, but a Hezbollah-style arrangement where Hamas sheds visible responsibility while keeping its weapons, its security structures, and a veto over any political deal,” he added.

DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law, “Hank,” has deliberately distanced himself from our family circle. Although he’s married with two children, he barely communicates with his parents, siblings (including my husband), or his nieces and nephews, except when he’s asking his parents for financial help.

On rare occasions when I do encounter him, his wife consistently refuses to engage in any family events, including dinners or photo opportunities. Her absence is always justified with a series of excuses or outright lies, leaving us puzzled as to why they choose to remain so detached. This situation is both painful and baffling.

Since joining this family, I’ve observed how Hank expertly manipulates situations to his advantage, often portraying himself as the victim. He struggles to hold down a job but insists on maintaining an extravagant lifestyle that far exceeds his financial capabilities.

Although I feel some sympathy, as it’s evident his actions stem from deeper issues, the endless pattern of his reappearing only to vanish soon after—especially at my in-laws’ expense—has become draining. They’ve finally decided to stop giving him money, yet I find myself concerned about what lies ahead.

As my in-laws grow older and perhaps more susceptible, I worry Hank might devise new ways to exploit their vulnerability. I care deeply for them, and it’s heartbreaking to have witnessed their ongoing suffering at his hands. Is there any way I can help? — CONFLICTED IN MISSOURI

DEAR CONFLICTED: Manipulating older folks to get them to fork over money is called elder abuse, and there are laws against it. Although it may be a bit premature (as your in-laws are still mentally competent), it couldn’t hurt for you and your husband to consult an attorney who specializes in elder law and discuss your concerns, because crimes like this happen too often.

** ** **

DEAR READERS: As anyone who reads “Dear Abby” knows, I have always stressed the importance of writing thank-you notes. It is now time for me to put pen to paper. I have always considered you, my readers, to be my friends. Thank you for accepting me as warmly as you always have and thank you for being willing to share your joys, pains and frustrations with me these many years. Your trust is the greatest honor I have ever been given. You have taught me far more life lessons than I have ever taught you.

I am now in my 39th year of penning the “Dear Abby” column, which started on Jan. 9, 1956, written by my late mother, Pauline Phillips. When I began writing it in 1987, I promised myself that when the time came to retire, I would step aside to live life without a deadline. I am grateful for the support of my two loyal and able assistants, Steven Andrews and Jose Fuentes. Please don’t worry about me; my health is fine. I plan to indulge my long-postponed itch to travel. 

In the years ahead, my column will continue to serve you. It will be written by a capable editorial staff. Please wish me a happy retirement as I open this new chapter of my life. 

I love you all. — Jeanne Phillips aka Dear Abby

** ** **

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly recently coined a new nickname for Michigan Democratic Congresswoman and US Senate candidate Haley Stevens. This came after Stevens gained viral attention last week due to her freshly adopted accent.

A video clip from a campaign rally captured Stevens urging her supporters to ‘stick it to them’ in a pep talk that drew attention for its unusual demeanor and delivery.

In her speech, Stevens emphasized her commitment by saying, ‘I am gonna be workin’ on our behalf, I am gonna be tellin’ the stories on our behalf,’ and added, ‘And you better believe I’m gonna be doin’ it with a little bit of joy, a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy, and a little bit of ‘stick it to ’em!’ Because that’s the Michigan way!’

Compared to her prior campaign videos and speeches on the House floor, Stevens seemed to adopt a noticeably thicker accent during this particular rally.

Kelly expressed skepticism regarding this change. On her show, she remarked, ‘This woman, she’s not playing it straight. We’ll show you the proof. Um, this is not how she’s always talked. She’s Jasmine Crockett.’

‘That’s what we’re realizing. This is a new Jasmine Crockett. Like, but I don’t get it, because do Michiganders need you to ‘speak like this in order to vote for ya, with the back in your throat, have your hard A’s,’ Kelly continued, mocking the Michigan accent herself.

‘No I don’t think so, I don’t think they require that, because that’s not how any other Michigan politician talks,’ Kelly added. 

Crockett, a fellow colleague of Stevens in the US House of Representatives, went viral earlier this year during her own race for the US Senate in Texas when she adopted a deeper southern accent on the campaign trail.

In a defense of the viral clip, Stevens told TMZ this week that her campaign speech was quintessential and ‘authentically Michigan.’ 

Stevens, a current member of the US House of Representatives, is running in the primary for the state’s US Seat against Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive who has served as the health director for Detroit, as well as Wayne County.

Stevens is currently riding a wave of endorsements from state and national leaders and has been boosted by polling showing her leaping ahead of El-Sayed.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer was the latest big name to weigh in for Stevens, noting over the weekend in a video, ‘As governor, I’ve had one strategy: get things done.’

‘And that strategy informs everything that I do, and that’s why I’m endorsing Haley Stevens for the U.S. Senate,’ Whitmer stated in a video Stevens shared on X.

 ‘Just like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan, and we need her now more than ever,’ Whitmer added.

El-Sayed responded to the endorsement, telling NBC News, ‘The corporate establishment has closed ranks and made their pick — now, Michigan voters will get to make theirs.’

Michigan’s primary election is August 4, and early voting commenced on Saturday, July 25.

The US Senate seat in Michigan is rated a ‘toss-up’ by the Cook Political Report, and the contest is for an open seat after incumbent Democrat Gary Peters chose not to run again. Peters backed Stevens in the primary earlier this month.

Mike Rogers, a former congressman, has secured the GOP nomination as he is uncontested.