After Hamas announced Yahya Sinwar, the military head of the organization, as its new political leader, the power center of the militant group is shifting to Gaza in Palestine.
Yahya Sinwar is replacing Ismail Haniyeh, the former political head of Hamas who was allegedly assassinated by Israel in Tehran on July 31. Haniyeh and his predecessor, Khalid Mashal, had operated out of Doha, Qatar, during their tenures. However, Sinwar, considered by Israel as the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attacks, is believed to be living in the network of tunnels near Rafah or the Khan Younis region of southern Gaza.
In a press statement on Tuesday night, following the announcement of Sinwar as the political head of Hamas, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), stated: “Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history on October 7. There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7 terrorists. That is the only place we’re preparing and intending for him.”
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also publicly declared that Israel would hunt down and kill Yahya Sinwar.
Also read: Hamas Appoints Yahya Sinwar As New Political Leader
Sinwar joined Hamas in 1987 when it was founded by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and has served 27 years in Israeli prisons over four jail terms. Fluent in Hebrew, he has always been considered one of the most ruthless Hamas leaders.
With Yahya Sinwar becoming the most powerful leader of Hamas, the future of the indirect peace talks facilitated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt remains uncertain.
According to Israel, out of the 251 hostages captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, after the massacre and mayhem, 111 are still in Hamas’s custody. This includes 39 deceased individuals. Sinwar is believed to be hiding in the tunnels surrounded by these hostages.
