Hamas announced on Tuesday that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the group's Gaza operations, has been appointed as the new political chief, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran last week.
Sinwar, along with Mohammed Deif and the senior military wing of Hamas, is identified as a key architect of the October 7 attack on Israel and has been operating from tunnels beneath Gaza since the conflict began.
The announcement of Sinwar's new role was swiftly followed by rocket alert sirens in southern Israeli cities, including Ashkelon, Sderot, Ibim, Nir Am, and Zikim. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. Three rockets were launched from northern Gaza; one was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, and the other two landed in open areas without causing injuries or damage.
Despite being in hiding, Sinwar remains influential, continuing to manage cease-fire negotiations and hostage deals through secure communication channels. He even sent a message of condolence to Ismail Haniyeh following the deaths of Haniyeh’s sons in Gaza in April. Hamas officials revealed that only three individuals know Sinwar's exact location and ensure his needs are met. "He is constantly updated, communicates, and is involved in developments," they said.
* Ynet contributed to this article.
