(Scypre.com) – Hamas has appointed Yahya Sinwar as the leader of its political wing following the assassination of its former political chief, Ismail Haniyeh. This move places Sinwar, known for his ruthless tactics and widely seen as the mastermind behind the October 7 attack, in the most powerful position within the organization, making him the face of Hamas in international diplomacy.
Michael Horowitz, a geopolitical analyst, highlighted the significance of this change, stating, “The most extreme part of Hamas carried out October 7 … and is now officially in power.” The assassination of Haniyeh in Iran on July 31 has heightened tensions in the Middle East. While Iran and Hamas blame Israel for the killing, Israel has remained silent. Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel.
With Haniyeh’s death, Hamas is now led by a more extreme figure, which could negatively impact cease-fire talks aimed at ending the war and freeing Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Haniyeh, based in Qatar, was seen as more pragmatic and supportive of a deal. In contrast, Sinwar, based in Gaza, often stalls or cuts off communications during negotiations. Victor Tricaud, a senior analyst at Control Risks, noted that Sinwar’s appointment signals a significant hardening of Hamas’ stance, especially concerning cease-fire talks.
Tricaud added that while Sinwar’s leadership is unlikely to change the dynamics of the ground war in Gaza, it will impede efforts to achieve a lasting cease-fire and regional de-escalation, predicting ongoing instability in the region for several months.
Sinwar, 61, born in a Gaza refugee camp, has spent over 22 years in Israeli prisons. He was sentenced to life in 1989 for orchestrating the killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel. Known as “the Butcher of Khan Yunis,” he was released in 2011 during a controversial prisoner swap for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
During his imprisonment, Sinwar learned Hebrew and studied Israeli psychology and behavior. He was designated a terrorist by the U.S. government in 2015 and became the leader of Hamas in 2017. The International Criminal Court has filed arrest warrant applications for Sinwar and Haniyeh for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Similarly, arrest warrants were filed against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Sinwar’s elevation to the top position within Hamas complicates potential plans for Gaza’s future, with no clear strategy from Israel. Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, remarked that the merging of Hamas’ political and military wings would challenge Hamas’ legitimacy on the international stage, as the separation previously allowed Hamas to negotiate better hostage settlements and secure its future in a potential Palestinian government.
Sinwar has survived several assassination attempts and is believed to be hiding in Gaza’s tunnel network during the current war. Ghanem Nuseibeh, chairman of Muslims Against Antisemitism, described Hamas’ decision to appoint Sinwar as risky, calling it a gamble with an “invisible leader.” He added that this move complicates negotiations, as mediators will have to deal with the most extreme faction of Hamas, led by an elusive figure.