Israel Vows to Eliminate New Hamas Political Chief Yahya Sinwar

Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group, has nominated Yahya Sinwar as the successor to its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was slain in Tehran a week ago.

Sinwar is regarded by Israel as the mastermind of the 7 October attack, in which over a thousand Israelis were killed and over 200 more were held prisoner.

The 61-year-old hardliner has been hiding in Gaza since then, despite Israeli attempts to murder him.

His appointment comes at a time when the region is tense, with Israel bracing for an attack from Iran in response to Haniyeh’s death.

It has not confirmed nor denied involvement in his death, but has vowed to assassinate him and other Hamas officials.

Last Monday, Israel acknowledged the death of Mohammed Deif, the chief of Hamas’ military branch, in a July airstrike on Gaza. Hamas hasn’t confirmed his death.
With Haniyeh’s death, Sinwar, who has spent half of his adult life in Israeli prisons, is now the most powerful Hamas commander still alive.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesman, labeled Sinwar as a “arch terrorist” and stated that Israel will continue to hunt him.

“There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, it’s next to Mohammed Deif, next to a Ghandour, next to Ayman Nofal (Hamas commanders Israel claimed it has killed), next to all the terrorists that were responsible for the 7 October,” according to him.

Hamas’ choice of Sinwar as its new political leader sends a powerful message of defiance to Israel’s leadership.

It also indicates that the leadership on the ground in Gaza has taken over from the exile leadership, which has historically handled relations with international friends through diplomacy.
The Palestinian death toll is now approaching 40,000, the majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and vast areas of the enclave have been damaged.