Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as its new overall chief, replacing Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran last week.
Since 2017, Sinwar has served as the group’s leader inside the Gaza strip. He will now become leader of its political wing.
It is believed Sinwar remains in the Gaza strip, though his current whereabouts are unknown.
The announcement comes at a moment of heightened tension in the Middle East, as Iran and its allies threaten retaliation for the killing of Haniyeh, which they blame on Israel. Israel has not commented.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of leader Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement,” a statement from Hamas said.
Sinwar currently tops Israel’s most-wanted list. Israel’s security agencies believe he masterminded the planning and execution of the 7 October 2023 attacks, which left over 1,200 people dead and 251 taken back into Gaza as hostages.
Sinwar has not been seen in public since the attacks in October, and is believed to be hiding “10 storeys underground” in Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Hamas is yet to release details of how he will lead the group’s political bureau.
In 2015, the US included Sinwar on its blacklist of “international terrorists”.
