Hamas appoints Yahya Sinwar as new leader; dubbed as “Dead Man Walking”, who is this ‘cunning’ mastermind?

Following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar has risen from the dark to become the next Hamas Chief. The ‘pragmatic’ leader orchestrated the October 7, 2023, attacks, making it the deadliest day in Israel’s history.

After two days of intensive negotiations in Doha, Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as its new overall leader, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh who was assassinated a week ago in Tehran. Sinwar is accused of masterminding the October 7 attacks that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

“The Islamic Resistance movement Hamas announces the selection of leader Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement,” read the statement of Hmas, according to AFP.

The newly appointed leader is known for his brutality and pragmatism. Let’s take a closer look into the personality, Yahya Sinwar.

Early Life, Education and Imprisonment

Yahya Sinwar was born on October 29, 1962, in the Khan Yousif Refugee Camp in Gaza, to a family that had been uprooted during the 1948 Arab Israeli War. The prominent Palestinian political and militant leader pursued studies at the Islamic University of Gaza where he became involved in Islamist activism.

In the late 1980s, Sinwar played a crucial role in establishing ‘Al-Majd’, Hamas’s internal security apparatus. His militant activities led to his arrest in 1988 for superintending the murder of two Israeli soldiers, resulting in a sentence of four life terms.

Sinwar spent 22 years in Israeli prison where he reportedly developed a deep understanding of his adversaries.

“He is not somebody who’s thinking about negotiations, a two-state solution- that’s not Sinwar”, said Yaari who interviewed Sinwar four times between 1993 and 2001, according to CBC.

“He was very clear that the state of Israel should be destroyed, and the Jews cannot be a part of a Palestinian state”, Yaari mentioned.

Leadership in Hamas

Sinwar quickly rose through the ranks of Hamas after his release in 2011, demanding a more robust stance against Israel. The October 7 strikes stand as a testament of his tactical prowess and determination to armed resistance, earning him the title of “dead man walking” from Israeli officials.

Imprisoned for over two decades for engineering violent reprisals against informants, he became a powerful figure among inmates. The foxy 61- year- old is known for his ruthlessness and strategic acumen.

“He makes decisions in the utmost calm, but is intractable when it comes to defending interests of Hamas,” Abu Abdallah, a Hamas member told AFP in 2017, after his former co-detainee was elected Hamas’s leader in Gaza.

Sinwar has been known for his hardline stance against Israel and his efforts to bolster the military capabilities of Hamas’s armed wing. He has played an instrumental role in fostering regional relations, including Egypt and Iran, which have provided military support to Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas).

In April 2018, Sinwar vowed that Hamas “will take down the border (with Israel) and will tear their hearts from their bodies,” mentions an article in FDD.

Orchestrating the deadliest day in Israel, October 7, 2023

As the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Sinwar was instrumental in planning “Operation Al-Aqsa-Flood,” which involved 2,200 rockets in a  rapid barrage, allowing approximately 1,500 militants to infiltrate Israel through multiple points along the border. The assaults resulted in the killings of around 1,200 people and around 250 people were taken hostage.

Sinwar has not been seen in public since the attacks in October. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he is hiding “ten storeys underground” in Gaza.

According to Saudi based Al-Arabiya news channel, when asked about the announcement of Sinwar being appointed as new Hamas chief, IDF Spokesperson Hagari said, “There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar and that is next to Mahmud Deif and all the terrorists who are responsible for October 7. This is the only place we are preparing and designating for him.”

Controversies and Designations

According to Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington,D.C, – the goal of Sinwar and other Hamas leaders is “a permanent state of war” with Israel.

In an interview with Channel 12 news, Palestinian affairs analyst Ohad Hemo noted that Sinwar “is now the most powerful figure in Hamas, formally too.” He further added that with IDF’s military and government working to destroy,  “It’s a highly significant move” by Hamas, “an expression of faith in the man who has been leading Gaza and, if I may say so, into the abyss.”

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant vowed in November to “find and eliminate” Sinwar. Urging Gazans to turn him in, he added, “if you reach him before us, it will shorten the war.”

After months of negotiations, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Sinwar remained the crucial individual required to sign off on talks for a possible ceasefire and hostage swap in Gaza.

The US listed Sinwar a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ in 2015, citing his role as an architect in orchestrating violence against Israel.

The International Criminal Court has also indicated intentions to pursue war crimes charges against him, underscoring his controversial status in international politics. 

Conclusion

Sinwar, the “butcher of Khan Yunis,” had long been on Israel’s hit list. The announcement of his leadership in a time when the country is bracing for conflict as Iran vows to avenge Haniyeh’s death, has put Israel in a tight spot.