“Mastermind” of October 7 attacks named as new Hamas leader

Yahia Sinwar, until now the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, assumes the position of top leader of the Palestinian movement.

Yahia Sinwar, considered by Israel to be the main orchestrator of the October 7 attacks, is the new political leader of Hamas, the Palestinian armed group has announced.

Sinwar, 62, has been the movement’s leader in the Gaza Strip. His appointment as the movement’s top leader demonstrates the central place that the administration of the territory, the scene of a fierce Israeli war since October 7, occupies in Hamas’s structure. A senior Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that Sinwar’s appointment sends “a strong message to the occupiers (Israel) that Hamas will continue on the path of resistance.”

The attacks that precipitated this war and which were reportedly planned by Sinwar cost the lives of 1,200 people. Meanwhile, the war in the Gaza Strip has already claimed around 40,000 Palestinian victims.

Sinwar replaces Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran last week. Israel is believed to have carried out the attack that killed the former Hamas strongman.