SAEDNEWS: The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has selected Gaza-based Commander Yahya Sinwar as the new political leader of the group after Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in an Israeli attack in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
According to SAEDNEWS, In a statement released on Tuesday, Hamas announced that Commander Yahya Sinwar has been selected as the new head of the movement's political bureau, succeeding the late Ismail Haniyeh. This development comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions between Hamas and Israel.
Haniyeh was tragically assassinated in an attack on his residence in Tehran, Iran, just days after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected president. His assassination marked the second high-profile Hamas leader to be killed by Israel since Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in October 2023.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has declared three days of national mourning for Haniyeh's passing, vowing a harsh response to punish the "occupying entity." Sinwar, a 61-year-old high-ranking Hamas military commander, has been a key figure in the organization's leadership for over two decades.
He was instrumental in launching Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation launched against Israel in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression and devastation against Palestinians. Sinwar is also among the top Hamas targets sought by Israel, with a $400,000 bounty on his head.
The election of Sinwar as Hamas's new leader is seen as a significant development, reflecting the movement's dynamic nature and understanding of its future direction. According to senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan, the selection was a unanimous decision by the movement's leadership.
Sinwar's appointment also sends a clear message that Hamas has chosen a leader who has been a stalwart defender of jihad and struggle on the battlefield in Gaza for over 300 days. Hamdan noted that the team responsible for negotiating with mediators on a potential ceasefire in Gaza, which was previously led by Haniyeh, will now be led by Sinwar.
As tensions between Hamas and Israel continue to escalate, Sinwar's leadership will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the organization's response to the ongoing conflict.
