After two days of intensive discussions in Doha, Hamas has appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new leader, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran last week. Sinwar, who has led Hamas inside the Gaza Strip since 2017, will now head the group’s political wing.
The decision was unanimous among Hamas leadership, marking a significant moment amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Iran and its allies have vowed retaliation for Haniyeh’s killing, which they attribute to Israel. Israel has not commented on the incident.
During the Doha meetings, Hamas leaders considered various candidates for the top position. Ultimately, the choice came down to Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Hassan Darwish, head of the General Shura Council. The council unanimously selected Sinwar, which a Hamas official described as “a message of defiance to Israel.”
The official emphasized that Haniyeh was seen as more flexible and open to solutions, while Sinwar, known for his hardline stance, represents a shift towards a more militant leadership. Sinwar is currently Israel’s most-wanted individual, accused of orchestrating the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages taken to Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and IDF spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari have both condemned Sinwar’s appointment, citing his responsibility for previous brutal attacks. Sinwar has not been seen publicly since October and is believed to be hiding in Gaza.
Javed Ali, a former US National Security Council official, indicated that Sinwar’s appointment might complicate ceasefire and hostage negotiations due to his inflexible nature.
Born in 1962 in Khan Younis refugee camp, Sinwar founded Hamas’s security service Majd in the late 1980s and has spent significant time in Israeli prisons. He was released in a 2011 prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
The 61-year-old has been on the US blacklist of “international terrorists” and served as the head of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza since 2017.
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