ALWAGHT- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has named Gaza-based Commander Yahya Sinwar as its new political leader following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli attack in Tehran.
On Tuesday, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced the appointment of Commander Yahya Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau.
Sinwar takes over from Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in an Israeli attack in Tehran.
"Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in the early hours of July 31," Hamas confirmed.
Haniyeh had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly-elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, the day before.
Haniyeh is the second prominent Hamas leader to be assassinated by Israel since the Al-Aqsa Storm operation on October 7, 2023. Salah al-Arouri was assassinated in southern Beirut on January 2.
In response to Haniyeh's assassination, the Islamic Republic declared three days of national mourning and vowed a harsh response against Israel.
Sinwar, a senior Hamas military commander, first became the leader of Hamas in Gaza in February 2017, succeeding Haniyeh.
Sinwar, 61, is one of the top Hamas targets sought by Israel, with a $400,000 bounty on his head following the October 7 operation.
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said Sinwar's election was a unanimous decision by the movement’s leadership.
"The selection of Sinwar demonstrates the dynamic nature of Hamas and reflects an understanding of the movement's future direction," Hamdan stated.
He added that the team responsible for negotiating a potential ceasefire in Gaza, previously led by Haniyeh, will now be headed by Sinwar.
