Jerusalem: Israel’s Foreign Minister called for the ‘swift elimination’ of Yahya Sinwar, who has been appointed as the new political leader of Hamas. For te unversed, Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran last week.
“The appointment of arch-terrorist Yahya Sinwar as the new leader of Hamas, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, is yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organisation off the face of the Earth,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on social media site X.
‘Sinwar an Arch-Terrorist’
Moreover, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesman, termed Sinwar an ‘arch-terrorist’ and affirmed that Israel would persist in its efforts to capture him.
“There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, it’s next to Mohammed Deif, next to a Ghandour, next to Ayman Nofal (Hamas commanders Israel claimed it has killed), next to all the terrorists that were responsible for the 7 October,” he said.
On Tuesday, Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, its top official in Gaza who masterminded the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, as its new leader in a dramatic sign of the power of the Palestinian militant group’s hardline wing after his predecessor was killed in a presumed Israeli strike in Iran.
The selection of Sinwar, a secretive figure close to Iran who worked for years to build up Hamas’ military strength, was a defiant signal that the group is prepared to keep fighting after 10 months of destruction from Israel’s campaign in Gaza and after the assassination of Sinwar’s predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh.
It is also likely to provoke Israel, which has put him at the top of its kill list after the Oct. 7 attack, in which militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took about 250 as hostages.
Rising Tensions and Regional Threats
The announcement comes at volatile moment. Fears are high of an escalation into a wider regional war, with Iran vowing revenge against Israel over Haniyeh’s killing and Lebanon’s Hezbollah threatening to retaliate over Israel’s killing of one of its top commanders in an airstrike in Beirut last week. American, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are trying to salvage negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza, shaken by Haniyeh’ killing.
Sinwar’s Rise to Prominence
Israel’s recent killings of several senior Hamas officials have elevated Yahya Sinwar as the group’s most prominent figure. His appointment indicates a shift in leadership dynamics, with Gaza’s ground leadership, particularly the Qassam Brigades, taking precedence over the traditional exiled leadership that handled foreign relations and diplomacy.
Despite his new role, Sinwar is expected to continue with cease-fire negotiations. Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan emphasized that the group’s resolve remains intact, and the failure to finalize a deal lies with Israel and the U.S.
Support from Allies
Iran and Hezbollah have praised Sinwar’s appointment, with Iran’s representative, Khaled Kaddoumi, highlighting Sinwar’s popularity and dual role as both a political and military leader.
Mediators face difficulties in advancing a U.S.-backed deal that involves a hostage release and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas demands a lasting cease-fire guarantee before agreeing to these terms. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that Sinwar’s decision will be crucial in moving forward with a cease-fire, which is essential for alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Sinwar’s Leadership Style
Since taking charge in Gaza in 2017, Sinwar has maintained a strong grip on Hamas rule and built up the group’s military capabilities. Known for his defiant public appearances, Sinwar once invited Israel to assassinate him, only to walk back home casually after the speech.
He has been in deep hiding since the Oct. 7 attacks, which triggered Israel’s campaign of bombardment and offensives aimed at destroying Hamas. The death toll among Palestinians is now nearing 40,000, most of the population of 2.3 million has been driven from their homes, and large swaths of Gaza’s towns and cities have been destroyed. In May, prosecutors at the International Criminal Court sought an arrest warrant against Sinwar on charges of war crimes over the Oct. 7 attack, as well as against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s defense minister for war crimes.
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