Hamas on Tuesday named Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the deadly Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, as its new leader. The decision is seen as a bold signal of the Palestinian militant group's hardline stance following the death of his predecessor in a presumed Israeli strike in Iran.
Sinwar, a top official in Gaza with close ties to Iran, has been instrumental in building Hamas' military capabilities. His selection as the new head of Hamas’ political bureau, replacing Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran last week, is likely to provoke Israel. Sinwar is now at the top of Israel’s kill list following the Oct. 7 attacks, which left 1,200 people dead in southern Israel and around 250 taken as hostages.
In a statement, Hamas confirmed Sinwar's appointment, signaling the group's intent to continue its fight despite facing ten months of Israeli bombardment in Gaza. The leadership change also marks a shift in power, with the Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, taking a more dominant role over the exiled leadership that traditionally handled diplomatic relations.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, speaking to Al-Arabiya television, made clear Israel's stance on Sinwar's appointment, stating, “There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists. That is the only place we’re preparing and intending for him.”
The recent deaths of several senior Hamas figures, including the head of its military wing, Mohammed Deif, in a July airstrike, have left Sinwar as the group's most prominent leader. His selection is seen as a consolidation of power within Hamas' hardline faction, pushing the group further into a militant stance.
Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan told Al-Jazeera that Sinwar would continue cease-fire negotiations, but placed blame on Israel and the United States for the failure to reach an agreement. He emphasized that Hamas remains steadfast both on the battlefield and in political negotiations.
Sinwar has been in hiding since the Oct. 7 attacks, which triggered Israel's intense military campaign in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths, widespread displacement, and the destruction of large parts of Gaza. In May, the International Criminal Court sought an arrest warrant against Sinwar for war crimes related to the Oct. 7 attack, as well as against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s defense minister for alleged war crimes.
Hugh Lovatt, an expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that the killing of Haniyeh, who was considered a relative moderate, cleared the path for Sinwar to take control. Lovatt said the leadership shift suggests Hamas is moving in a more hardline direction.
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