Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar

CAIRO: Hamas named its Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar as successor to former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, the group said on Tuesday. Analysts see the appointment as a move that reinforces the radical path pursued since the Oct 7 raid.

Sinwar has been in hiding in Gaza, defying Israeli attempts to kill him since the start of the latest conflict.

“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 Allah have mercy on him,” the movement said in a brief statement.

New leader spent half his adult life in Israeli prisons

News of the appointment was greeted with a salvo of rockets from Gaza by fighters still resisting Israeli troops in the besieged enclave.

Sinwar, who spent half his adult life in Israeli prisons, was the most powerful Hamas leader left alive following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh last week. The murder has left the region on the brink of a wider regional conflict after Iran vowed harsh retaliation.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the assassination, but it has said it killed other senior leaders, including Hamas deputy leader Saleh Al Arouri and Mohammed Deif, the movement’s strategic planner.

Born in a refugee camp in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the 61-year-old Sinwar was elected as Hamas leader in Gaza in 2017 after gaining a reputation as a “ruthless enforcer” and an implacable enemy of Israel.

He was formerly head of the Al Majd security apparatus which tracked, killed and punished Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel’s secret service before he was jailed.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...
IMF scrutiny
Updated 11 Feb, 2025

IMF scrutiny

Strengthening foundations of the economic superstructure will help make the economy competitive and boost growth.
Shadow voices
11 Feb, 2025

Shadow voices

OVER the weekend, another ‘open letter’ addressed to the army chief and attributed to former prime minister ...
Paradise at a premium
11 Feb, 2025

Paradise at a premium

PAKISTAN’S recent triumph at the New York Travel and Adventure Show 2025, winning the Best Partner Pavilion Award,...