On May 7, 2026, an Israeli air strike resulted in the death of Azzam Al-Hayya, the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya. This incident occurred against the backdrop of U.S.-mediated negotiations concerning the future of Gaza, according to statements from a senior Hamas official.
The attack took place on Wednesday night, and Azzam Al-Hayya succumbed to his injuries the following day. He is notably the fourth son of Khalil Al-Hayya, who has previously faced multiple assassination attempts by Israeli forces. Basim Naim, a senior Hamas official, confirmed the details of the attack, although the Israeli military has not issued a public comment regarding the incident.
Khalil Al-Hayya has a total of seven children and has survived previous attempts on his life. Notably, a prior Israeli strike in Doha targeted Hamas leadership, resulting in the death of one of his sons. Two other sons were killed in earlier strikes aimed at Khalil Al-Hayya during military operations in Gaza in 2008 and 2014.
Following the attack on his son, Khalil Al-Hayya spoke to Al Jazeera, alleging that Israel was attempting to undermine mediators’ efforts related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan. He claimed that these actions reflect Israel’s unwillingness to adhere to a ceasefire or fulfill the initial phases of negotiations.
Continued Violence Amid Negotiations
This escalation of violence occurs while Hamas leaders and representatives from other Palestinian factions are engaged in talks in Cairo. These discussions, which involve regional mediators and the lead envoy for Trump’s Gaza plan, Nickolay Mladenov, seek to further advance the plan into its second phase.
Trump’s Gaza plan, which was agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas last October, envisions a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the initiation of reconstruction efforts once Hamas lays down its arms. However, disarmament remains a contentious issue during the negotiations and a key obstacle to solidifying the ceasefire that has been in place since halting two years of military conflict.
Casualty Figures and Ongoing Conflict
A Hamas official conveyed to Reuters that the group has made it clear to Mladenov that it will not engage in substantial discussions regarding the second phase of the Gaza deal until Israel fulfills its obligations from the first stage, specifically a complete cessation of attacks.
According to local medical sources, at least 830 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire agreement took effect. In contrast, Israel has reported that four of its soldiers have died during this same period, attributing their strikes to the necessity of thwarting attempts by Hamas and other militant groups to carry out attacks against Israeli forces.
The tensions in the region continue to escalate, complicating the already challenging political landscape and further entrenching divisions between the involved parties. The ongoing discussions in Cairo aim to navigate these complex dynamics, but recent violence underscores the fragility of the peace process.