The day Hamas elected Khalil al-Hayya

Editors across Palestinian media converged on Hamas's election of Khalil al-Hayya as political bureau chief, announced mid-morning and dominating coverage through the evening. Multiple outlets profiled al-Hayya as a former prisoner and father of martyrs, framing the leadership transition as a defiant act amid war. Ultra Palestine reported a single-vote margin over Khaled Mashal, underscoring internal dynamics. Earlier, overnight settler attacks on Deir Jarir killed two Palestinians, a story that led morning bulletins but was soon eclipsed. By afternoon, Israeli airstrikes on vehicles in Gaza City and Khan Younis killed seven, with casualty updates cascading through the day. Regional tensions persisted: US strikes on Iran continued for a ninth night, Yemen imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, and Turkey threatened military support for Iran. The al-Hayya election, however, remained the day's editorial anchor.