Hamas on Tuesday announced that it had chosen Yahya Sinwar, who heads the movement inside the Gaza Strip, as the new leader of the group’s political bureau, following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh last month in Tehran.
Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said that Sinwar was unanimously chosen as the new leader, reflecting the movement’s understanding of the current needs of the group. He added that Sinwar was always involved in the negotiations for a ceasefire with Israel.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement, succeeding the martyr Commander Ismail Haniyeh, may Allah have mercy on him,” Hamas said in a brief statement.
Sinwar, who was close to Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and was known for founding the internal security bodies of Hamas, was previously sentenced by Israel to four life terms in the late 1980s. ….more
