Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Tuesday appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new political chief.
Sinwar will succeed Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president on July 31, the group said in a statement on its Telegram channel.
Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of assassinating Haniyeh, but Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its responsibility.
Later, Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Anadolu: “Hamas’ choice of Sinwar as its leader sends a message with significant implications directed to the enemy (Israel) and its allies.”
Sinwar is the most wanted Hamas leader by Israel, with Tel Aviv accusing him of masterminding the October 7 attack, which prompted Israel to launch a devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip that killed more than 39,600 people since last Oct. 7, according to local health authorities.
Ten months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.
A single Palestinian state
Sinwar dreams of a single Palestinian state bringing together besieged Gaza, the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.
Sinwar has often reiterated that he won’t tolerate anyone who stands in the way of reconciliation with Fatah.
He has been reportedly sending emissaries to Mahmoud Abbas for reconciliation.
He was among 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners released by Israel in exchange for Hamas’s freeing of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.
In a 2018 interview, Sinwar argued that a “new war is in no one’s interest, certainly not our interest.”
“Hamas leadership is trying to reach a lengthy truce with Israel. In the past such truces have resulted in increased food and much-needed medical shipments that are currently denied or withheld for long periods at a time by Israeli authorities” he added.
When asked about the Israeli siege of Gaza and his response to it?
Sinwar said “I’m not saying I won’t fight anymore. I’m saying I don’t want any more wars. What I want is an end to the siege. My first commitment is to act in the interest of my people; to protect them and to defend their right for freedom and independence.”
“The siege is not quiet,” he added.
– Anadolu Agency and TRT World
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