After 24 Years In Israeli Jail, Yahya Sinwar Rose To Lead Hamas Attacks

In the week following a shocking attack by Hamas on Israeli cities, the name Yahya Sinwar has emerged at the forefront. Israeli authorities have branded Sinwar as the “face of evil” and accused him of orchestrating the attacks that resulted in the loss of over 1,300 Israeli lives. As Israel prepares for a potential ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson for the Israeli forces has declared that Sinwar and his team “are in our sights.”

The Beginning

Yahya Sinwar, born in 1962, spent his early years in Khan Younis city in South Gaza, which was under Egyptian control at the time. Israeli forces have referred to him as the “butcher of Khan Younis” due to his association with his hometown. Sinwar’s family was initially settled in Ashkelon, which is now in southern Israel. However, they had to relocate to Gaza in 1948 when Israel took control of Ashkelon, formerly known as al-Majdal. Sinwar holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic studies from the Islamic University in Gaza.

The Prison Years

Sinwar has a lengthy history of incarceration, amounting to about 24 years. His initial arrest was in 1982 for subversive activities. In the years that followed, he partnered with Salah Shehade to form a unit focused on targeting Israel’s informants within the Palestinian movement. Shehade was killed by Israeli forces in 2002 while leading Hamas’ military wing.

After the establishment of Hamas in 1987, the unit Sinwar co-founded became a pivotal component within the organization. In 1988, Sinwar was arrested for his involvement in the murder of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians suspected of working for Israel. The following year, he received four life sentences.

The Release

In 2006, a team from Hamas’ military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, used a tunnel to infiltrate Israeli territory and attacked an army post. This operation resulted in the killing of two Israeli soldiers, the injury of others, and the capture of one soldier, Gilad Shalit. Shalit remained in captivity for five years until he was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange. For Shalit’s freedom, Israel released 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners, among whom was Sinwar, who had spent 22 years behind bars.

The Rise

Following his release, Sinwar steadily climbed the ranks of Hamas, particularly within its military wing. In 2015, Sinwar was added to the US list of wanted international terrorists. The US Department of State document designating him as a terrorist noted his role in founding the forerunner of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing. In 2017, Sinwar was elected as the head of Hamas in Gaza.

Ruler of Gaza

Sinwar holds the position of Number 2 in the Hamas leadership, following Ismail Haniyeh, who heads the organization’s political bureau. With Haniyeh residing in voluntary exile, Sinwar effectively governs Gaza. He consistently advocates armed resistance against Israel and rejects any compromise formula. Known for his fiery speeches, he is reported to command unwavering loyalty from Hamas ranks and takes a stringent approach to keeping Hamas operatives under close supervision.

One notable instance of this approach was the execution of Hamas commander Mahmoud Ishtiwi. Ishtiwi faced allegations of embezzlement in 2015 and was subsequently executed in 2016, with further accusations of “moral crimes.” Reports suggested that Ishtiwi was homosexual, which Sinwar feared could lead to extortion and compromise within Hamas.

2023 Israel Attacks

Israel has accused Sinwar of masterminding the recent attacks on Israeli cities. Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht declared, “Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil. He is the mastermind behind this, like [Osama] bin Laden was (for 9/11).”

Hecht emphasized that Sinwar gained notoriety for killing Palestinians whom he deemed collaborators, earning him the moniker “butcher of Khan Younis.” The Israeli defense spokesperson asserted that Israel would not spare Sinwar, vowing to target him and his entire team. He also acknowledged the potential for a prolonged campaign.