Who was Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar?
Yahya Sinwar, born in 1962 in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza, was a key figure in Hamas. He was one of the early members of Hamas, established in 1987. Sinwar eventually became the leader of Hamas’s security division, focusing on eliminating informants working for Israel. He was apprehended by Israeli forces in the late 1980s and confessed to murdering 12 individuals suspected of collaboration, earning him the moniker “The Butcher of Khan Younis.” He received a sentence of four life terms due to various offenses, including the deaths of two Israeli soldiers.
While incarcerated, Sinwar orchestrated protests to enhance prison conditions and took the initiative to learn Hebrew and gain insights into Israeli society. In 2008, he overcame brain cancer with the assistance of Israeli medical professionals. In 2011, he was among over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in exchange for an Israeli soldier taken by Hamas during a cross-border operation.
Upon his return to Gaza, Sinwar swiftly ascended through the ranks of Hamas leadership, developing a reputation for brutality. He is widely believed to have orchestrated the 2016 assassination of Mahmoud Ishtewi, another high-ranking Hamas commander, amid a struggle for power within the organization. As the head of Hamas in Gaza, Sinwar effectively controlled the territory and collaborated with Ismail Haniyeh to strengthen ties with Iran and its allies while also enhancing the military capabilities of Hamas.
Sinwar, alongside Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, is thought to have orchestrated the unexpected attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This assault resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities, predominantly among civilians, and triggered a conflict that has claimed over 42,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza, according to local health officials. Hamas claimed the attack was a response to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, aiming to reinsert the Palestinian cause into international discussions.
Sinwar took charge of Hamas following the death of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, who perished in an explosion in Iran in July, an incident widely attributed to Israeli actions. Since the attack, Sinwar has remained in hiding, and those involved in cease-fire negotiations have indicated that it may take several days to communicate with him. Even prior to assuming the role of top leader, Sinwar was believed to hold the ultimate authority over any agreements regarding the release of hostages, with around 100 still believed to be in Gaza, a third of whom are thought to be deceased.
