Hamas Names Yahya Sinwar as New Political Leader Following Haniyeh's Assassination
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas appointed Gaza-based Commander Yahya Sinwar as its new political leader after Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli attack in Tehran.
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced on Tuesday the selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar as head of its political bureau.
Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in an Israeli attack in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
"Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in the early hours of July 31," Hamas stated.
He had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly-elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, a day earlier.
Haniyeh is the second high-profile Hamas leader to be assassinated by Israel since Al-Aqsa Storm operation on October 7, 2023.
Salah al-Arouri was assassinated in southern Beirut on January 2.
The Islamic Republic declared three days of national mourning for Haniyeh, vowing a harsh response against Israeli regime.
Sinwar, a high-ranking Hamas military commander, became the leader of Hamas in Gaza in February 2017, succeeding Haniyeh.
He was a key architect of Al-Aqsa Storm operation, launched in response to years of Israel's brutal campaign against Palestinians.
Sinwar, 61, is among the top Hamas targets sought by Israel, with a $400,000 bounty on his head following the October 7 operation.
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said the election of Sinwar was a unanimous decision by the movement’s leadership.
"The selection of Sinwar shows the dynamic nature of Hamas and reflects an understanding of where the movement is headed," Hamdan stated.
He added that the team responsible for negotiating a potential ceasefire in Gaza, previously led by Haniyeh, will now be led by Sinwar.