Yahya Sinwar Appointed as New Hamas Political Leader

Hamas announced yesterday that Yahya Sinwar, the presumed mastermind of the deadly October 7 attacks against Israel, has been selected as its new political leader, consolidating his power over the militant group amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

Sinwar will replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an explosion last week in Tehran. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for the assassination, though Israel has not publicly taken responsibility.

Since 2017, Sinwar has served as the leader of Hamas in Gaza and is widely believed to be hiding in tunnels beneath the enclave. Born in the Gaza Strip, he spent two decades in Israeli prisons before being released in a 2011 prisoner exchange with Israel. Israeli officials view him as a sophisticated strategist with a keen understanding of their society.