Hamas Appoints Yahya Sinwar as New General Leader After Haniyeh Assassination

Hamas has announced that Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds of the deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, will be its new leader.

Sinwar, who has led Hamas in Gaza since 2017, will now also replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an explosion in Iran last week in an act widely attributed to Israel.

“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar as head of the movement’s political bureau, succeeding the martyred Commander Ismail Haniyeh, may Allah have mercy on him,” the movement said in a brief statement.

News of the appointment comes as Israel braces for a possible attack by Iran following Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran.

“This appointment means that Israel must confront Sinwar to find a solution to the war in Gaza,” said a regional diplomat familiar with the talks led by Egypt and Qatar, which aim to end the fighting in Gaza and the return of 115 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in the enclave.

“It is a message of firmness and it is uncompromising.”

Born in Gaza, Sinwar, 61, is a major target of Israeli forces and is said to hide in tunnels to escape attacks. Despite this, he influences the group’s position in ceasefire negotiations.

Sinwar’s new role comes as the Middle East braces for possible retaliatory strikes by Iran and its allies, including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, in response to the deaths of Haniyeh and top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of responsibility for the attack that killed Haniyeh in Tehran after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Although Israel has not commented on the incident, U.S. officials have privately said Israel was responsible.