Yahya Sinwar declared On Tuesday is Hamas new political leader after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The group said, “The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement,” Parami News reported.
Israeli military officials (Belying his face) have notably accused Sinwar of being one of the brains behind an attack on Israel that took place on October 7th, making him one of Israel’s most wanted gunmen.
Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing said they had fired a salvo at Jewish state immediately following this announcement.
Who is Sinwar?
Born in Gaza in 1962 during fraught times around the creation of Israel, he chose to join Hamas because he experienced harsh conditions when growing up.
Hamas climb
After being recruited by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin who co-founded Hamas organization, Sinwar headed internal security unit named Al Majd. Parami News reports that his role comprised punishing individuals suspected for transgressing Islamic laws or having connections with Israel before he was imprisoned by Israeli authorities.
Detention and education
Sinwar served over twenty years in an Israeli jail since his imprisonment in 1988 for killing four Palestinians suspected as apostates or informants. During this period, he studied Hebrew language, translated many materials about Israeli security practices into Arabic and understood Israeli culture better.
According to Yuval Bitton who is an Israeli dentist that treated him in jail, Sinwar used these translations to teach other inmates tactics they could use to counter terrorism. Rather than discussing personal matters, Sinwar talked about Hamas describing himself as a “specialist in Jewish people’s history.”
However while inside detention, he wrote a novel named “Thorn and Carnation” which is a story reflecting his own experiences from childhood. The book highlights life under occupation for a boy from Gaza and demands made by resistance for sacrifice.
Sinwar described the prison as a crucible during an interview with an Italian journalist. “Prison builds you,” he said, having time to reflect on his beliefs and how much they would cost him.
After being released
When Sinwar was freed in 2011 due to a prisoner exchange deal, the current head of Hamas’ political bureau said that capturing Israeli soldiers was the most effective way to get Palestinians imprisoned by Israel out from jails. “For the prisoner, capturing an Israeli soldier is the best news in the universe, because he knows that a glimmer of hope has been opened for him,” Sinwar said at the time.
Post-prison life saw Sinwar marry and start a family but his personal life has remained private ever since. He once noted that ‘drone’ were among his son’s first words which showed how deeply conflict oriented he still remained.
Sinwar’s position means therefore, that it is unlikely that he will support a ceasefire with Israel to end fighting in Gaza and release over 115 hostages who are still under Hamas custody. According to Israeli and US intelligence agencies, Sinwar wants to protract this war so as undermine Israel globally and its relations with America.
