An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City has killed Azzam al-Hayya, the son of senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, at a time when Hamas leaders and international mediators are attempting to preserve a fragile ceasefire and advance negotiations regarding Gaza’s future. According to reports citing Hamas officials, Azzam al-Hayya died after sustaining injuries during an Israeli strike carried out in Gaza City.
The killing is particularly significant because Khalil al-Hayya remains one of Hamas’s most prominent political and negotiating figures involved in US-mediated discussions concerning the ongoing Gaza conflict, ceasefire arrangements and future governance plans for the territory. Reports indicate that Azzam al-Hayya is now the fourth son of the exiled Hamas leader to be killed in Israeli military operations since the conflict escalated.
The strike occurred while Hamas leaders and representatives of other Palestinian factions were meeting in Cairo alongside mediators in an effort to maintain the ceasefire framework and move negotiations into a broader political phase. Diplomats and regional officials have reportedly been attempting to prevent the collapse of the truce amid continued violence and unresolved disagreements between Israel and Hamas.
Although a ceasefire arrangement was announced in October, Israeli forces have continued conducting airstrikes and military operations across Gaza, targeting locations described by Israel as militant infrastructure and operational positions linked to Hamas. Local officials also reported that another Israeli strike separately killed three Hamas-affiliated security personnel stationed at a security post in Gaza City.
Hamas has accused Israel of deliberately using targeted killings and military strikes to pressure negotiators and influence the outcome of ongoing talks. Following the death of his son, Khalil al-Hayya stated that the attacks demonstrated Israel’s unwillingness to fully honour the ceasefire agreement or proceed with commitments linked to the first phase of negotiations.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem also condemned the strike and stated that repeated attacks against Hamas leaders and their families would not force the organisation or the Palestinian population into making political concessions during negotiations. According to Hamas officials, Israel is attempting to use military pressure as leverage while talks remain stalled over major unresolved issues.
Following the strike, dozens of Palestinians reportedly gathered in Gaza for the funeral of Azzam al-Hayya. Mourners were seen offering prayers and chanting religious slogans before carrying his body for burial. Members of the family publicly stated that they considered themselves part of the wider suffering experienced by Palestinians throughout the conflict.
The latest escalation comes as negotiations linked to a US-backed Gaza framework remain deadlocked over several core disputes. One of the most significant disagreements concerns demands for Hamas to disarm as part of any long-term settlement. The proposed plan reportedly envisions Israeli troops eventually withdrawing from Gaza while reconstruction and recovery efforts begin, alongside expectations that Hamas would surrender its weapons.
However, Hamas leaders have repeatedly insisted they will not move forward to the next stage of negotiations unless Israel first fulfils earlier commitments, including halting attacks, reducing military operations and allowing significantly increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The Cairo meetings this week reportedly involve Hamas leaders, Palestinian factions, regional mediators and envoy Nickolay Mladenov as efforts continue to advance negotiations tied to the broader Gaza framework proposed during previous diplomatic engagements.
The conflict itself began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered a massive Israeli military response in Gaza. Since then, the territory has witnessed extensive destruction, severe humanitarian crises and tens of thousands of deaths. According to local medical officials, at least 830 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the ceasefire officially came into effect.
The killing of the negotiator’s son has now added further strain to already fragile negotiations, deepening mistrust between the two sides at a time when mediators are attempting to prevent a complete breakdown of the ceasefire process and avoid another escalation in the conflict.
