The Enigmatic Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: A Peril for Israel's Security
Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas official in Gaza, finds himself targeted by Israeli forces who have surrounded his house He is a key figure wanted by Israeli authorities, making his current situation precarious
Israeli Prime Minister announced on Wednesday that Israeli forces had encircled the residence of Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas official in Gaza and the most sought after by Israeli authorities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Sinwar was not in the house and was suspected to be hiding underground in Gaza. However, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that it was only a matter of time before they apprehend him.
Israel has publicly alleged Sinwar to be the primary planner of the Hamas terror attack on October 7, but experts believe he is just one of several individuals involved. As a key figure in the Islamist Palestinian group, Sinwar developed the Hamas military wing and established important connections with Arab powers in the region while serving as the group's civilian and political leader.
In 2017, he was elected as the political leader of the Gaza branch of Hamas and became the de facto leader of the Politburo. Research by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) confirms this. Since 2015, he has been designated as a global terrorist by the US Department of State and has also been sanctioned by the United Kingdom and France.
Top row: Adina Moshe, Yocheved Lifshitz, Emily Hand and Hila RotemBottom row: Raaya Rotem, Eitan Yahalomi, Ruth Munder and Uthai Saengnuan
Hostages Missing Families Forum/Family Photos/Reuters/Associate Press
Little food, a beating and lice: What freed Israeli hostages are saying about being held by Hamas
Harel Chorev, a senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, stated that although Sinwar holds significant influence within Hamas, he should not be viewed as its sole leader.
"He is seen as the most prominent figure due to his high public profile, but Hamas operates differently," Chorev explained. "It is a decentralized organization with multiple independent power centers, and he is just one of them."
Chorev stated that Sinwar is part of a "triumvirate" of Hamas officials responsible for the October 7 attack, along with Mohammed al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, and Deif's deputy, Marwan Issa. Although Sinwar is the most recognizable figure, it was actually Deif who announced the October 7 attacks.
But while Sinwar has spent the past few years giving speeches and being photographed, Deif is an extremely secretive, shadowy figure who hasnt been seen in public in decades.
Yahya Sinwar attends a parade in Gaza City on May 30, 2021.
Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Dead man walking
Sinwar's birth took place in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in 1962. His family had been displaced from Al-Majdal, a Palestinian village in modern day Askhelon, during the Arab-Israeli war.
In the late 1980s, he joined Hamas and was instrumental in establishing the feared internal intelligence unit known as the Majd. In 1988, he was found guilty of involvement in the killings of two Israeli soldiers and four suspected collaborators with Israel, leading to over twenty years of imprisonment in Israel.
After his release in 2011, Sinwar admitted to spending those years studying his enemy, which included learning to speak Hebrew. This was part of a deal that resulted in the exchange of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been captured and held in Gaza for over five years.
Sinwar described the exchange as a significant strategic milestone in our cause's history. Chorev explained that his release was made possible because his brother was one of Shalit's kidnappers and advocated for his inclusion in the deal.
RE'IM, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 13: The aftermath of the Supernova Music Festival tragedy is still visible, with destroyed cars and personal belongings strewn across the site where hundreds lost their lives and dozens were abducted by Hamas militants near the Gaza border on October 13, 2023 in Kibbutz Re'im, Israel. In response, Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza and initiated consistent retaliatory airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people and the displacement of more than 400,000. The large-scale attack by Hamas on October 7 prompted this significant and devastating reaction. The surprise assault by land, sea, and air led to the loss of over 1,300 lives and left approximately 2,800 wounded. Additionally, Israeli soldiers and civilians were taken captive by Hamas and transported into Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war and established an emergency wartime government following the attack. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/File
What we know about rape and sexual violence inflicted by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel
Sinwar quickly rose through the ranks in Gaza and became a significant figure in Hamas, known for his brutality and violent treatment of those he suspected of betrayal or collaboration, according to Chorev.
"He gained a reputation for torturing people, mainly Hamas members, while in prison, using a hot plate to inflict burns... His involvement in the Majd speaks volumes about his cruel character. However, Israelis who have encountered him have noted that he can also be pragmatic and openly discuss options," Chorev stated.
Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas, prioritized the group's foreign relationships. According to the ECFR, he played a crucial role in repairing Hamas' relationship with Egyptian leaders, who were concerned about the group's support for political Islam, and in securing ongoing military funding from Iran.
Sinwar was seen as a significant decision maker and the primary point of contact within Gaza during the intense negotiations to secure the release of over 240 hostages taken into the enclave by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. The negotiations involved senior figures from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
Gershon Baskin, a prominent Israeli peace activist who played a role in negotiating the 2011 release of Israeli soldier Shalit, emphasized that the key figures in the negotiations are Yahya Sinwar from Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu from Israel. The talks resulted in the release of over 100 Israeli and foreign hostages by Hamas and 240 Palestinian prisoners and detainees by Israel. However, the temporary ceasefire that was a product of these negotiations collapsed on December 1, with both Israel and Hamas pointing fingers at each other for the failure.
Sinwar has been labeled with various harsh names in the past two months. Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht referred to him as the "face of evil" and predicted his demise. Israeli media likened him to Osama bin Laden, and an IDF profile dubbed him "the Butcher from Khan Younis."
However, Chorev emphasized that although Sinwar is in the spotlight, he is just one of many commanders that Israel needs to eliminate in order to claim victory over Hamas.
"In simple terms, killing Sinwar may not necessarily lead to the downfall of Hamas. Conversely, Hamas could still be brought down even if Sinwar remains alive, as it is not a hierarchical organization. To effectively destroy Hamas, Israel would need to target a critical mass of power centers, not just one individual," he explained.
