Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau, elevating the hard-line militant to the group’s highest post following the assassination in Tehran of its previous political leader.
Sinwar’s appointment was announced in a brief Hamas statement that was broadcast on pro-Hamas Iranian state media channels.
Sinwar, the military leader of Hamas who is seen as the mastermind of the October 7th attack on Israel, is believed to be hidden in the series of tunnels beneath Gaza. He is primarily responsible for the group’s decisions in Gaza and is believed to have control of the approximately 120 Israeli hostages still in Hamas custody.
Related: Yahya Sinwar: the man who could be the key to the release of Gaza hostages
Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyehthe former political head of Hamas who was killed in a bomb attack last week which both Hamas and Iranian authorities attributed to Israel. The assassination occurred during the inauguration of Iran’s new president and raised further fears of a wider regional war involving Iran, which supports both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Iran promised to retaliate against Israel for the attack on its territory.
Haniyeh was another key figure in negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and was seen as an intermediary between Israel and Sinwar. Haniyeh had little direct control over Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and was seen as a relative moderate, leading Hamas delegations in talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US aimed at a ceasefire and hostage release agreement. and prisoners.
Sinwar is a founding member of Hamas and is seen as the group’s most powerful figure. Former head of the group’s intelligence service, Sinwar spent 23 years in Israeli prisons while serving four life sentences for attempted murder and sabotage. A former interrogator called him “1,000% committed and 1,000% violent, a very, very tough man.”
His elevation to the head of Hamas’ political wing will raise further doubts about the possibility of any ceasefire agreement being reached in the conflict.
“By electing Sinwar to lead Hamas, the organization puts an end to any differences between external and internal leaders and any illusions of moderation that existed to reveal its true face,” wrote Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment.
Israel killed several senior members of Hamas’ leadership, including military commander Mohammed Deif, who Hamas acknowledged was killed in an attack in July. Another important Hamas political leader, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in January.
