On August 6 (local time), Hamas officially announced Mr. Yahya Sinwar as the head of the movement's political office, after leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31.

Mr. Sinwar is the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and is considered one of the planners of the October 7, 2023 attack by this force and its allies on Israel, leading to Israel's retaliatory military campaign in this land for the past 10 months.

The new Hamas political leader was arrested by Israeli forces in 1988 and sentenced to life in prison on assassination and terrorism charges. However, Sinwar was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel, in which Israel released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas releasing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Observers had described Sinwar as a hardliner who had often called for attacks against Israel. Haniyeh’s assassination sent shockwaves across the region, with many seeing it as an attempt by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to sabotage ceasefire negotiations, in which Haniyeh was a key figure.

Hezbollah welcomed Sinwar's appointment, calling it a strong message to Israel and the United States, and showing Hamas' unity in decision-making.

Sinwar is one of several Hamas leaders for whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for alleged war crimes on October 7 last year. ICC arrest warrants have also been issued for several Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes in Gaza.

KHANH MINH