Hamas leader says Israel to use Gaza 'blood' in election

Live Blog Update| War on Iran

26 September 2026 21:11 BST

The leader of Hamas brushed aside the possibility of change from Israel's upcoming election in an interview on Saturday, saying he expected Israelis to campaign off Gaza's "blood".

"Whether this or that person comes to power, or this party or another - our people have suffered at the hands of all Israeli parties,"  Khalil al-Hayya told the Qatari station Al-Araby.

"We absolutely refuse to allow the blood, suffering, and cause of the Palestinian people to serve as fuel for Israeli elections. What matters to us is that our people achieve their goals, aspirations and legitimate rights."

In this file photo, mourners carry the body of Azzam Khalil al-Hayya, son of the deputy chairman of Hamas' Political Bureau Khalil al-Hayya, after the former was killed the previous day by Israeli bombardment, during the funeral in Gaza City on 7 May 2026 (AFP)