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New Political Leader in Hamas
The Hamas announced on Tuesday, August 6, that Yahya Sinouar, its chief in Gaza, had been appointed as the new political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement, a week after the assassination of his predecessor, Ismaïl Haniyeh in Tehran.
Succession Amid Conflict
Following Ismaïl Haniyeh’s death in a strike attributed to Israel, the Hamas had declared that its political institutions would soon convene to select a new political leader. This succession comes amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, initiated by Israel on October 7 as a reprisal for a bloody Hamas attack on Israeli soil the same day.
Profile of Yahya Sinouar
Yahya Sinouar, elected in February 2017 as the head of Hamas in Gaza, is known for his hardline stance. A 61-year-old native of Khan Younès, he spent twenty-three years in Israeli prisons before being released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange. Sinouar has been linked to Hamas since its establishment in 1987 during the first Intifada. He later founded Majd, Hamas’ internal security service, and is a former elite commander in the Al-Qassam Brigades, also believed to be the mastermind behind the October 7 attack.
Current Status
Sinouar remains elusive, with little public appearances since his appointment. He is wanted by Israel and listed as an “international terrorist” by the United States.
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[mid-res image of Yahya Sinouar]
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