New Delhi: Hamas confirmed on Friday the death of its leader, Yahya Sinwar, in an Israeli assault on Gaza the previous day. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, in a video statement, said Sinwar’s death would only serve to bolster the group’s resolve. He also declared that the 101 hostages held by Hamas would not be released until Israeli forces withdrew from the Palestinian territory.
Sinwar, who orchestrated the 7 October 2023 attack that sparked the current Gaza conflict, was killed by Israeli forces during a firefight on Wednesday – the second time in less than three months that Hamas has lost its top leader. The previous chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Iran in July, reportedly by Israel.
Mohammad Sinwar expected to play more prominent role
It is anticipated that Hamas will replace Sinwar with a new political leader based outside Gaza, while his brother, Mohammad Sinwar, is expected to play a more prominent role in directing the war against Israel, according to experts cited by Reuters in a report. In selecting a new leader, Hamas must consider the interests not only of its primary backer, Iran, but also of Qatar, where the leading candidates for the role of politburo chief currently reside.
When Sinwar took over from Haniyeh, he unified the military and political leadership in Gaza, but this approach is not expected to be repeated. After more than a year of intense Israeli strikes, which have decimated Hamas, killed thousands of fighters, and eliminated senior leaders both within Gaza and beyond, it remains uncertain how the group will emerge from this latest setback.
Who could replace Yahya Sinwar
Sinwar’s deputy, Khalil Al-Hayya, viewed as a possible successor, has taken a firm stance, stating that Israeli hostages would only be released once Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza and the conflict ended. Hamas is known for quickly replacing its fallen leaders, with the Shura Council, its top decision-making body, responsible for appointing a new head.
The Shura Council, which represents all Hamas members across the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Israeli prisons, and the Palestinian diaspora, is expected to select a leader who can engage in ceasefire negotiations, even if they are not based in Gaza, where Hamas fighters continue to hold numerous Israeli hostages. Alongside Hayya, a prominent negotiator for Hamas, other leadership contenders include Khaled Meshaal, Haniyeh’s predecessor, and Mohammad Darwish, a relatively unknown figure who chairs the Shura Council, the Reuters report further said as per analysts and a Hamas source.
Experts on Palestinian affairs predict that Sinwar’s duties will be divided, with one individual overseeing military operations and another managing the political office, responsible for international relations and policy-making.
