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.

In a tragic incident captured on surveillance video, a 12-year-old boy lost his life to a stray bullet while riding his bicycle in the Bronx. A man has now been charged in connection with the boy’s untimely death.

William Ferrer, aged 45, was taken into custody on Sunday morning. He faces several serious charges, including murder, two counts of attempted murder, manslaughter, six counts of assault, and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, as confirmed by the New York Police Department to News Media.

Ferrer is alleged to have opened fire amid a chaotic scene outside Wanda Deli Grocery on Elliot Place, close to the Grand Concourse in Mount Eden, on Saturday afternoon. The gunfire tragically claimed the life of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes, who police say was an unintended target.

Reports indicate that Freytes was simply cycling near the local bodega when the shooting began shortly before 5 p.m. He was hit in the shoulder and promptly transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Ferrer’s arrest Sunday, calling Freytes’ death “an act of senseless gun violence.”

“Jacob was an innocent bystander on his bike when he was taken from his family yesterday in an act of senseless gun violence,” Tisch wrote on X. “No arrest can ever ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, but the NYPD will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for Jacob.”

Surveillance video shared by United Bodegas of America shows Jacob exiting the neighborhood bodega after buying a ball and getting on his bicycle.

Moments later, as gunfire erupts, the video appears to show Freytes running back inside clutching his chest before collapsing to the floor as horrified customers look on.

The gunfire also wounded two other men. Police said a 34-year-old was shot in the foot, while a 25-year-old was struck in the buttocks. Both men were in stable condition.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani mourned Freytes’ death in a statement posted to X following the shooting.

“My heart breaks for his family, friends and all those who loved him. Their loss is unimaginable,” Mamdani wrote. “Our children should be able to ride their bikes on a nice summer day in their neighborhood without fear of being shot. We cannot accept this violence as normal.”

The mayor also said he was praying for the recovery of the two surviving victims and thanked hospital staff and the NYPD “for their work to find those responsible for this heinous act.”

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ office also mourned Freytes’ death, saying “nothing could be more tragic.

“We mourn with 12-year-old Jacob Freytes’ family,” the Office of the Public Advocate wrote on social media. “Nothing could be more tragic: An innocent child on his bike, killed by a stray bullet.”

The office added that “our children’s safety is our collective responsibility” and called for “urgently implementing the strategies proven to make us safer.”

Ferrer has had multiple prior run-ins with law enforcement dating back to 1999, according to the New York Post, which cited law enforcement sources. The outlet reported his record includes arrests on allegations of drug possession, drunken driving, possession of stolen property, menacing and criminal contempt.

Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the United Bodegas of America, called Freytes’ death a devastating reminder of the toll gun violence continues to take on New York City during a Sunday press conference outside the bodega where the shooting happened.

“We’re just tired of having these press conferences speaking about gun violence,” Mateo said. “Whether it’s in a bodega, whether it is in a cab, it’s gun violence on our streets.”

Mateo said surveillance video shows Freytes entering the neighborhood bodega to buy a ball before walking outside moments before the shooting erupted.

“He runs back into the bodega because he lives in the area, and he’s a regular in that bodega seeking refuge,” Mateo said. “But no, he didn’t make it. Twelve years old.”

Mateo also said the store is equipped with one of the emergency panic buttons installed in many New York City bodegas, but the violence unfolded within seconds.

A surge in influence marks a significant chapter for the Democratic Socialists of America. Indeed, they are experiencing not just a moment but an entire season of political relevance.

Across the nation, DSA candidates are emerging victorious in Democratic Party primaries, unseating incumbents and advocating for some of the boldest platforms seen in recent history.

Leading this dynamic shift is Zohran Mamdani, the magnetic young socialist who now resides in Gracie Mansion, asserting himself as the DSA’s new figurehead.

The DSA’s intentions are explicit and determined: to complete the transformation initiated by Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign, aiming to fundamentally change the United States.

Recently unveiled, the DSA’s policy agenda boldly declares its mission: “We are workers fighting to transform society,” aiming to “draft a new constitution, and create a democratic socialist republic.”

It would be one thing if these were the words of a starry-eyed freshman pothead, first exposed to Marx and pontificating to dormmates while John Lennon’s dreadful song “Imagine” plays in the background.

But people like Hizzoner and the new uptown socialist “it girl,” Darializa Avila Chevalier, are adults.

They are serious. And that makes them not just naive but dangerous.

Zo has had a complicated relationship with the issue of public safety.

The official DSA platform stops short of calling for full “abolition” of prisons or policing, instead calling to “demilitarize police departments” and “end mass incarceration.”

But Avila Chevalier promoted full-on police and prison abolition from a since-deleted Twitter/X account, and Mamdani condemned the “carceral state” when he ran for the  Assembly in 2020.

After Avila Chevalier’s primary victory, Mamdani was pressed during an appearance on ABC News on whether he supports the existence of prisons.

“There are prisons,” he simply responded.

That’s not exactly reassuring.

Just this week, Zo appeared on purported comic Jon Stewart’s podcast and doubled down on his prevarication. Stewart asked Hizzoner if he is “comfortable” with calls to abolish prisons.

“I’m comfortable with disagreement,” he replied.

Noted. But the more important question is: Should Americans be comfortable with public officials entertaining the abolition of the twin pillars of public safety, police and prisons? The answer is obvious: No.

Democratic socialists think they’re helping the “little guy” with their anti-cop, anti-prison lunacy. They’re not.

According to recent federal data, 62% of state prisoners were serving time for a violent offense, such as homicide, rape or robbery.

These people are threats to society and need to be incarcerated.

As esteemed criminologist Barry Latzer notes, the average American inmate was arrested a whopping 11 times before getting locked up, and an astonishing 83% of released prisoners are ultimately rearrested — about half in the first year after release.

Socialists might think they’re helping black Americans amid our post-1619 Project racial reckoning, but they fail here too: Nearly 90% of black homicide victims are killed by black perpetrators.

The biggest danger to law-abiding blacks in America today is the threat posed by violent blacks out on the streets, and not behind bars.

There is only one coherent explanation for the DSA’s anti-cop, anti-prison obsession: naked, raw ideology.

And there is a name for that ideology: Third World-ism.

It’s a dystopian zeal for barbarism over civilization. And these days, it’s the name of the game for the activist left. We see it everywhere.

Third World-ism explains the activist left’s support for the butchers of Hamas over the free people of Israel.

Third World-ism explains the activist left’s support for punitive environmental regulations that engender economic degrowth.

Third World-ism explains why the activist left speculates that maybe America actually deserved 9/11.

Third World-ism explains why the activist left wants the anarchy of open borders, not the ordered liberty of the nation-state.

Third World-ism explains why the activist left sides with illegal aliens and not victims of illegal-alien crime.

And Third World-ism explains why the activist left sides with criminals, in general, and not with crime victims.

The problem with ideology, as the philosophers recognized millennia ago, is that it is stubborn.

It is usually impervious to logic, reason or empiricism.

The remedy for bad ideology, therefore, cannot simply be facts and statistics. We also need good ideology: a moral argument that public safety is a public good, and government exists to secure the public good.

Whether there is anyone willing to make that argument in earnest remains to be seen.

Josh Hammer is Newsweek senior editor-at-large and host of “The Josh Hammer Show.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has unleashed a fierce rebuke towards the World Cup’s critics, suggesting that they’ve been overtaken by negativity. Infantino urged these individuals to find inner peace, recommending activities such as meditation, prayer, or even watching a football match.

As the curtain fell on the six-week tournament, Infantino addressed his detractors with a robust defense posted on Instagram—a 15-slide presentation that appeared to tackle the various controversies shaping the summer spectacle.

The outburst was posted across Infantino’s personal Instagram account and cross-posted to FIFA’s official page on Sunday night, reaching over 13 million followers.

Although Infantino chose not to hold press conferences at the opening or conclusion of the World Cup, he began his Instagram post by chastising those who overlooked the essence of the event—the game itself. He emphasized the missed opportunity to experience the myriad emotions, from joy and celebration to tears and heartbreak.

According to Infantino, those absent from savoring the World Cup were engulfed by an overwhelming sense of hate and criticism.

In a pointed critique seemingly directed at journalists, Infantino accused his detractors of hiding behind their devices and platforms, spreading what he termed hate and misinformation.

‘I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organizing, working hard and delivering the best show in the world,’ he continued. 

Infantino, 56, then claimed: ‘We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100 percent safety and security, only joy and happiness!’

However, critics online were quick to point out a number of violent incidents that occurred as a direct result of the six-week summer tournament. 

In fact, the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was hit by violent protests as riot police fired tear gas at demonstrators prior to Mexico’s game against South Africa. 

The massive demonstrations were fueled by a coalition of multiple unions and activist groups marching to draw global eyes to the country’s severe domestic issues.

The most prominent groups mobilizing include searching mothers’ collectives, the CNTE teachers’ union, federal judiciary workers and various transport organizations. In total, it was reported that eight simultaneous protests took place.

Away from the tournament’s opening day, there were a number of violent incidents that occurred at fan parks and during post-match celebrations worldwide.

Most tragically, Infantino’s claim of ‘zero incidents’ ignored the death of four supporters in Mexico City, who suffocated during chaotic street celebrations following Mexico’s round of 32 victory over Ecuador. 

While Infantino previously offered condolences on social media, the day after the tragedy, his 15-slide post made no mention of the victims when boasting about tournament safety.

Meanwhile, other fans noted that FIFA opted to proceed with the tournament despite fans from four competing nations, Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast, facing US travel bans imposed by the Trump administration. 

In another case, Somali referee Omar Artan saw his dreams of officiating in a World Cup crushed after being prohibited from entering the US on the tournament’s eve. 

Trump’s administration then made a bombshell claim that Artan, who was named as Africa’s best male referee last year, was denied entry due to terrorism fears. 

Infantino appeared to address the controversy surrounding both the fans and the official.

He wrote: ‘You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.’

Elsewhere in his social media rant, Infantino claimed that ‘Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict.’

However, fans noted that only four of the fifteen Iranian team staff members who were originally denied visas were later granted the right to travel into the country. 

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also sparked fury after claiming that ‘almost half’ of Iran’s non-playing delegation had direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

‘Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks,’ an official for the federation said, via The Telegraph.

‘These remarks once again demonstrate that US officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organizing a global sporting event.’

Infantino also appeared to fire a direct shot at critics regarding the mid-tournament storm surrounding Donald Trump and USMNT forward Folarin Balogun.

The striker was sent off during the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning that he should have been unavailable for their next game against Belgium.

However, on the eve of the game, FIFA announced that they had postponed his suspension – sparking widespread fury from fans across the globe. 

It was later revealed that Trump had phoned up Infantino, who previously presented the US president with an inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, and asked for the case to be reviewed, leading fans to launch accusations of political interference.

Addressing the controversy, Infantino wrote: ‘Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees’ decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.

‘It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticizing,’ the FIFA chief added on the matter.

The unprecedented ruling sparked furious accusations of political favoritism from UEFA, the Belgian Football Association and countless European lawmakers.

The Norwegian Football Federation have also since confirmed plans to file a formal complaint over Trump’s role in the decision. 

He capped off his tirade by telling his detractors to step away from their computers and find peace.

‘To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions,’ Infantino concluded.

‘To the pens and papers, to all the screens, may you find love and peace where the people behind you couldn’t. May you find peace; we at FIFA have found ours and we deliver it, by delivering the most outstanding FIFA World Cup. May football rise above all hate.’