The appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the head of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas’ political bureau is both a surprise and a message to Israel that he is alive, the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority, KAN, said, Anadolu Agency reports.

Roi Kais, the Arab affairs correspondent for KAN News, said in the evening news program that “in reality, this (Sinwar’s selection) is a surprise just a week after Haniyeh’s assassination.”

Kais believes Sinwar’s appointment sends “a message from Hamas that he is alive, despite being hunted by Israel, and that Hamas’ leadership in Gaza remains strong and intends to stay in power.”

Ehud Yaari, the Middle East affairs analyst for Channel 12, noted that Sinwar’s appointment has symbolic significance in affirming his position within the movement.