Following the killing of Haniyeh, Hamas appoints October 7 mastermind Sinwar as its leader

In a decision that furthers the extreme course taken since the attack on Israel on October 7, Hamas appointed its Gaza commander Yahya Sinwar as the replacement for former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran last week, the organization said on Tuesday.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Israeli attempts to murder Sinwar, the mastermind of the most catastrophic attack on Israel in decades, have been thwarted as he has concealed in Gaza.

“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 Allah have mercy on him,” the organization stated in a brief statement.

The announcement of the appointment was met by a barrage of missiles from Gaza by the militant groups currently battling Israeli soldiers in the beleaguered territory, as Israel braced for a potential invasion from Iran after Haniyeh’s death in Tehran.

“The appointment implies that Israel must confront Sinwar regarding a resolution to the Gaza conflict,” stated a regional diplomat acquainted with the negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar. The objectives of these negotiations are to terminate hostilities in Gaza and retrieve the 115 Israeli and international captives retained in the enclave.

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

With Haniyeh’s murder, which has put the area on the verge of a larger regional confrontation after Iran threatened severe punishment, Sinwar—who spent half of his adult life in Israeli prisons—was the most influential Hamas commander still alive.

Although it has not taken credit for the murder, Israel has acknowledged that it assassinated other prominent figures, such as Mohammed Deif, the movement’s military chief, and Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of Hamas, who was slain in Beirut.

Sinwar, 61, was chosen as the leader of Hamas in Gaza in 2017 after earning a reputation as an uncompromising foe of Israel and a brutal enforcer among Palestinians. He was born in a camp for refugees in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s top military spokesperson, declared that Israel will keep going after Sinwar and claimed responsibility for the operation on October 7.

In an official statement from the military, he said, “There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and that is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the Oct 7th terrorists,” to Al-Arabiya television. “That is the only place we’re preparing and intending for him.”

CEASEFIRE CONVERSATIONS

Senior movement sources claimed that Khaled Meshaal, a former leader who was viewed as Haniyeh’s possible successor, had backed Sinwar “in loyalty to Gaza and its people, who are waging the battle of the Flood of Al-Aqsa,” signaling that the movement had come together behind Sinwar.

The nomination validates Hamas as an enemy committed to Israel’s demise, and it is expected to bolster Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertions that Israel needs to carry out its war in Gaza to the very end.

In regards to Sinwar’s appointment, the White House remained silent. However, a person with knowledge of Washington’s thinking claimed that the choice implied that Hamas may become more adamant in its stance during ceasefire talks, making a settlement more difficult to achieve.

But they also said that the statement only put the finishing touches to Israel’s knowledge that, even prior to his official appointment, Sinwar would have the last say over any accord to end hostilities.

Ten months have passed since the surprise onslaught on Israeli towns in the Gaza Strip by hundreds of Hamas-led fighters in the wee hours of October 7. The war has completely changed the Middle East and raised the possibility of escalating into a larger regional confrontation.

Over 250 foreigners and Israelis were held captive in Gaza, and almost 1,200 people were killed. Israel responded by launching an unrelenting onslaught that has destroyed the heavily populated enclave and claimed the lives of almost 40,000 Palestinians.

In the face of accusations from both Israel and Hamas, efforts to achieve a truce that would allow the beleaguered populace to rest and allow the hostages still in detention to be sent home have failed.

Osama Hamdan, a Hamas spokesman, told Al Jazeera that the organization was still dedicated to striking a compromise and that Sinwar, who was reportedly carefully monitoring the negotiations, would continue to lead the team that managed the negotiations under Haniyeh.

However, political analyst Hani Al-Masri of Ramallah claimed that Sinwar’s selection to head the organization as a whole was a clear challenge to Israel and a statement about Hamas’ commitment to his “extremist and resistant approach”.

“As Sinwar manages the negotiations, he will manage the movement,” he stated.