This is a thread about Yehya Sinwar, Hamas’ new political leader. The picture is from his teens when he was a student at the Islamic University.
Six decades before, in 1962, Sinwar was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southeastern Gaza.
Six decades before, in 1962, Sinwar was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southeastern Gaza.
His family were refugees from Majdal Askalan, or what became Ashkelon after the creation of Israel in 1948.
Sinwar finished his studies at the Islamic university of Gaza with a BA in Arabic studies. He was in his early twenties when first arrested. In 1988, he was detained and charged with planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers. He was handed four life sentences.
In prison, it didn’t take long for Sinwar to become a leading figure among Palestinians. An Israeli government assessment of his years in detention described the young man as ruthless and powerful.
Sinwar used his time in jail to study Hebrew. He became fluent enough to give interviews to Israeli journalists in their own language.
In the interview Sinwar said “Hamas has both political and military bodies, Israel disrespected the political process, they assassinated sheikh Ahmad Yasin and other Hamas leaders, therefore in case we reach this truce one day, still we won’t be the sweethearts of Zion. And I think the Israelis won’t expect from Hamas to expect them to love the Palestinians.
During his years in prison Sinwar translated several books and wrote the following:
"Hamas: Trial and Error."
"Glory," which documents the work of the "Shabak" agency.
Several security oriented articles that laid the foundation for Hamas's security experience.
A novel titled "The Clove Thorn" (which narrates the experience of the Palestinian struggle after 1967 until the Intifada).
"Hamas: Trial and Error."
"Glory," which documents the work of the "Shabak" agency.
Several security oriented articles that laid the foundation for Hamas's security experience.
A novel titled "The Clove Thorn" (which narrates the experience of the Palestinian struggle after 1967 until the Intifada).
Sinwar’s freedom finally came in a prisoner exchange that saw Hamas release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for more than 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
And then his star began to rise. He succeeded Ismail Haniyeh as Hamas' leader in Gaza. and initiated the reconciliation with Iran after yearss of division over the war in Syria.
With Sinwar involved in the planning, Hamas launched offensive after offensive against Israel. Eventually he became the second most wanted man in Gaza, after Qassam Brigades’ commander Mohammad AlDeif
the attack of October the 7th attack took place. Sinwar topped Israel’s list of targets. The Israeli military described him as a dead man walking.
But the dead man emerged after Israel’s killing of Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran as the group’s new ultimate leader.
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