Hamas names Yahya Sinwar, architect of 7 October attack, as new leader

Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau, elevating the hardline militant to the group’s top post after the assassination in Teheran of its previous political leader.

Sinwar’s appointment was announced in a brief statement by Hamas that was aired on pro-Hamas Iranian state media channels.

Sinwar, the Hamas military leader who is seen as the mastermind behind the 7 October attack against Israel, is believed to be hiding in the series of tunnels underneath Gaza. He is the group’s chief decision-maker in Gaza, and is believed to hold control over the estimated 120 Israeli hostages who are still in Hamas’ custody.

Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, the former Hamas political chief who was killed in a bombing attack last week that both Hamas and Iranian officials blamed on Israel. The assassination came during the inauguration of Iran’s new president and has further stirred fears of a larger regional war involving Iran, which backs both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Iran has promised to retaliate against Israel for the attack on its soil.

Haniyeh was another key figure in the talks between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire, and was seen as an intermediary between Israel and Sinwar. Haniyeh had little direct control over Hamas militants in the Gaza strip and was seen as a relative moderate, directing Hamas’s delegations in talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US aimed at a ceasefire and hostage and prisoner release deal.

Sinwar is a founding member of Hamas and is seen as the group’s most powerful figure. A former head of the group’s intelligence service, Sinwar spent 23 years in Israeli prisons as he served four life sentences for attempted murder and sabotage. A former interrogator called him “1,000% committed and 1,000% violent, a very, very hard man”.

His elevation to the head of Hamas’ political wing will raise further doubts about the potential for any ceasefire deal to be struck in the conflict.

“In electing Sinwar to head Hamas, the organization lays to rest any differences between external and internal leaders and whatever illusions of moderation existed to reveal its true face,” wrote Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment.

Israel has killed a number of key members of Hamas’ leadership, including the military commander Mohammed Deif, who Hamas acknowledged was killed in a strike in July. Another top Hamas political leader, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in January.