Hamas has announced that Yahya sinwar, the group’s highest-ranking official, will replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran last Thursday.

Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza is considered to be the architect of the invasion and massacre that took place in southern Israel on October 7, in which 1,200 people died and 251 were taken hostage. This led to the war in Gaza. Hamas has declared its intention to destroy Israel.

Sinwar is hiding in Gaza after the massacre he orchestrated and planned 10 months ago. In February, the IDF published a video filmed on 10 October that showed him walking with his family through a Gaza Tunnel. In a press release, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that the hunt for Sinwar would not end until he was caught alive or dead.

The IDF confirmed on August 1 that Muhammad Deif, commander of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, was killed in a recent airstrike.

Sinwar was chosen by Hamas’s Shura Council. The Shura Council is a 50-strong consultative body comprised of officials elected by Hamas’s members from four chapters: Gaza (Gaza), the West Bank (West Bank), the Diaspora, and security prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

Ohad Hemo, an analyst of Palestinian affairs on Channel 12, notes that Sinwar is “now the most powerful figure within Hamas formally as well.” “That was always the case. Now it’s official.”

Hemo adds that “it’s a sign of faith” from the terror group whose “leadership is rapidly shrinking”. “And it returns the center of Hamas authority to Gaza”, whereas previously much of the leadership was located overseas, including Haniyeh, Khaled Mashaal, and others.

Hemo says that Hamas’s military and governance capabilities are at their lowest point in Gaza. The IDF is working to destroy them. Hamas’ “highly significant move” is “an expression faith in the leader who has led it into Gaza, and if I may say, the abyss.”