Hamas announced on Tuesday (August 6, 2024) the appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the new head of the group’s political bureau. He takes over after the assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh, which occurred during a trip to Tehran (Ira) on Wednesday (July 31).
In an official statement, Hamas said that after “in-depth consultations and deliberations in the movement’s leadership institutions,” it had decided to appoint Yahya Sinwar as chairman of the political bureau. It described Haniyeh as a “martyred leader” and highlighted Sinwar’s key role in the group’s “new phase.”
Before Haniyeh’s death, Sinwar was already considered a likely candidate to take over as Hamas leader, given his position as the group’s No. 2 leader and his focus on operations in the Gaza Strip. He was the main person responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the Israeli offensive in the enclave.
Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Sinwar’s whereabouts have been unknown, although Israeli intelligence believes he is still in Gaza.
Who is Yahya Sinwar
In the Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis refugee camp, Yahya Sinwar was born in 1962. He grew up alongside Ahmed Yassin, one of the founders of Hamas. He studied at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he graduated with a degree in Arabic Studies.
Sinwar was one of the founders of Hamas’ internal security wing, known as “Majd,” playing a crucial role in the crackdown on Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel during the First Intifada.
In 1988, he was arrested by Israel and sentenced to life in prison for participating in attacks against Israelis. 2011 saw his release as a result of an agreement between Israel and Hamas to exchange prisoners.
After his release, Sinwar quickly rose through the Hamas ranks, being elected leader of the group in the Gaza Strip in 2017, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh. He became Hamas’ most powerful leader after Haniyeh’s assassination in Iran.
Sinwar is a controversial figure. Some Palestinians see him as a “resistance hero,” while Israel and many Western countries consider him “a terrorist.” Sentenced to death by Israel several times, he was included on the US list of “international terrorists” in 2015. Despite this, he remains an influential figure in Palestinian politics.
Yahya Sinwar is married and has children, but his personal life is kept private for security reasons.
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