Hamas has announced that Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, is its new overall leader.
Sinwar, who has led Hamas in Gaza since 2017, will now replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an explosion in Iran last week—a move widely attributed to Israel. In a brief statement, Hamas declared, “The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement, succeeding the martyr Commander Ismail Haniyeh, may Allah have mercy on him.”
This announcement comes as Israel braces for a potential retaliatory strike from Iran following Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran. “The appointment means that Israel now faces Sinwar in resolving the Gaza conflict,” said a regional diplomat involved in talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar to cease fighting in Gaza and secure the return of 115 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in the enclave.
“It is a message of toughness and it is uncompromising,” the diplomat added.
Born in Gaza, the 61-year-old Sinwar is a major target for Israeli forces and is believed to be hiding in tunnels to evade attacks. Despite this, he continues to influence the group’s stance in cease-fire negotiations.
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Sinwar’s new role comes as the Middle East braces for potential retaliatory strikes from Iran and its allies, including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, in response to the deaths of Haniyeh and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of the bombing that killed Haniyeh in Tehran after his attendance at the inauguration of Iran’s new president. While Israel has not commented on the incident, US officials have privately assessed that Israel was responsible.