Days after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, Hamas named its Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar as chief of the group.
Yahya Sinwar, who has been a prominent figure in Gaza, is now set to lead Hamas during these challenging times. The decision comes as the group faces both internal and external pressures, and Sinwar's leadership is anticipated to steer Hamas through its current crisis.
Who is Yahya Sinwar?
Yahya Sinwar is the current leader of Hamas in Gaza, a position he has held since 2017. Prior to his leadership, he spent over 20 years in prison, where he learned Hebrew and studied Israeli media to gain a deeper understanding of his adversary. Sinwar's time in prison reportedly allowed him to develop expertise in psychological warfare.
He has been associated with Hamas since its early days and was close to the organization's co-founders, Ahmed Yassin and Mahmoud al-Zahar. According to reports, Sinwar was granted a fatwa by Yassin to target individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel.
After his release from prison, Sinwar led Hamas's internal security branch, the Majd Force, which focuses on identifying and eliminating suspected Israeli informants. There have been reports of him overseeing harsh punishments, including a incident where a suspected informant was forced to bury his own brother alive.
At 62, Sinwar is considered one of the younger leaders of Hamas and is part of the organization's top leadership in Gaza. He is credited with being the strategic mastermind behind recent operations, including the October 7 incursion.
