Hamas has announced Yahya Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau, following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
In a statement, Hamas said, “The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement, succeeding the martyr Commander Ismail Haniyeh, may [God] have mercy on him.”
Yahya Sinwar, 61, is known as the mastermind behind the October 7 attack by Hamas inside Israeli territory, which resulted in over 1,100 deaths and more than 200 captives.
In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis with widespread starvation and health emergencies. Reports have also emerged of rights abuses, including the torture of Palestinians in captivity.
Haniyeh’s assassination, likely carried out by Israel, was seen as an attempt by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to disrupt ceasefire negotiations in which Haniyeh was a key participant. Analysts believe Sinwar’s appointment highlights Gaza’s central role in Hamas’s political strategy.