Yahya Sinwar on the left side of the photo. (Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades)
The Palestinian Hamas Movement announced on August 6 that it had chosen Yahya Sinwar, its top official in the Gaza Strip, as the new overall leader of its political bureau.
Sinwar has served as the group’s leader inside Gaza since 2017. He is seen by Israel as the mastermind behind the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack inside Israeli territory, in which more than 1,100 people were killed and more than 200 others taken captive.
The selection of Sinwar as Hamas new leader follows Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on July 31.
“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 [God] have mercy on him,” Hamas said in a brief statement.
The appointment of Sinwar as the new leader of Hamas comes at a moment of soaring tensions in the Middle East, as Iran and its allies threaten retaliation for the killing of Haniyeh, which they blame on Israel. Israel has not claimed responsibility on the official level.
Hamas General Shura Council reportedly unanimously chose Sinwar as the group’s new leader, in what appears to be a response to the assassination of Haniyeh.
The war waged by Israel against Gaza after the October 7 attack has so far killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, thousands of them women and children, displaced almost all of the Strip’s 2.3 million population.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah welcomed Sinwar’s appointment late on August 6, calling it a strong message to Israel and the United States, and showing that Hamas is united in its decision-making.
“Selecting the brother Yahya Sinwar from the heart of the besieged Gaza Strip – who is present the frontlines with resistance fighters and between the children of his people, under the rubble, blockade, killings and starvation – reasserts that the goals the enemy is seeking by killing leaders have failed,” the group said in a statement.
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen also welcomed the appointment of Sinwar as Hamas new leader on August 6, wishing him success.
Overall, Sinwar’s appointment was a major blow to Israel, who consider him to be one of Hamas main hardliners. Israel’s attempt to intimidate the group, its leadership and allies by assassinating Haniyeh has clearly backfired and things could get worse with Iran’s upcoming retaliation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
