Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday, according to Israel. This news has been confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency. However, no official confirmation has been made by Hamas yet.
Who is Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas Chief?
Yahya Sinwar, born in October 1962 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, is a prominent Hamas leader. He received his education in Khan Younis and graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza with a bachelor’s degree in Arabic studies.
Sinwar’s involvement with Hamas led to multiple arrests by Israeli authorities. His first arrest came in 1982 at age 20, followed by several subsequent detentions. In 1988, he was sentenced to four life terms for his role in the kidnapping and murder of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of four Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel.
How did Yahya Sinwar become prominent for Hamas?
During his imprisonment, Sinwar became a key figure among Hamas prisoners, leading the Supreme Leadership Committee of Hamas inmates. He used his time in prison to study Hebrew and write on political, security, and literary topics.
In 2011, Sinwar was released as part of a prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Following his release, he quickly rose through Hamas’s ranks. In 2012, he was elected to Hamas’s political bureau, taking charge of security matters. By 2013, he assumed leadership of Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
Sinwar’s influence within Hamas continued to grow. In 2017, he was elected as the head of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza, a position to which he was re-elected in 2021 for a second four-year term.
Yahya and his rare public appearances
Known for his cautious nature, Sinwar rarely makes public appearances. His residence has reportedly been targeted multiple times during conflicts between Hamas and Israel.
Sinwar is widely considered to have played a significant role in planning the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which led to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Although Yahya Sinwar remains a key figure in Hamas leadership, and Ismail Haniyeh continues to serve as the overall leader of Hamas, the situation in the region remains volatile and deadly for civilians.
