WANA (Aug 07) – Many observers find the selection of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas’ military wing, as the successor to Ismail Haniyeh and the new leader of Hamas to be unexpected and perhaps surprising.

 

The choice of Sinwar carries several important points:

1. Unanimous Agreement: Sinwar was chosen with unanimous support, even receiving the approval of individuals like Khaled Mashal, the leader of Hamas.

2. Military Rigor and Political Pragmatism: Sinwar is known for being inflexible and radical on military matters while pragmatic in politics. He aims to strengthen Hamas’ field capabilities to enhance the movement’s political standing and negotiating power. Therefore, his election signifies the importance of revitalizing Hamas’ military structure and rebuilding its manpower on the ground. In essence, Hamas needs to restore its military sector to bolster its political position and negotiation leverage, a goal Sinwar can achieve.

 

3. Response to Haniyeh’s Assassination: Sinwar’s selection serves as a response to the assassination of Haniyeh, sending a message to Israel that Hamas’ approach remains steadfast and that their resistance will continue.

 

4. Significance for Iran: Sinwar’s election is highly significant for the Iran axis and will strengthen political coordination between Iran and Hamas.

 

5. Operational Challenges: Given Sinwar’s inability to appear in public and his need to remain hidden, his deputy’s role in advancing political negotiations will be more crucial than before.

 

6. International Challenges: Nevertheless, Sinwar’s election might pose challenges for Hamas’ political wing on the international stage.

Reactions to the Selection of Yahya Sinwar as the New Leader of Hamas

Reactions to Yahya Sinwar’s selection as the new leader of Hamas have varied among Israeli officials and regional and international experts.

 

– Avi Issacharoff, Israeli Political Analyst: “Hamas has chosen the most dangerous person as its leader.”

– Jaberi Ansari, Former Spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senior Expert on West Asia: “The selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar, the legendary resistance leader of Gaza and the creator of the October 7th epic in Palestine, carries a precise and significant message to Israel.” He sarcastically congratulated the Israelis on this choice.

 

Israeli regime media also interpreted Sinwar’s appointment as a message to Israel, acknowledging that he is alive and that the leadership of Hamas in Gaza is strong and enduring.

 

Sinwar’s Promise:
Sinwar remains one of Israel’s greatest enemies, surviving numerous assassination attempts while continuing to fight against Israeli forces. Not only does he refuse to surrender, but in one of his earlier writings, he hinted that the full strength of the Palestinian forces has yet to be displayed. “Israel has seen some of our capabilities, and the day will come when they will see all of our capabilities (or part of it in a future war), and this is what I promise them.”