- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Yahya Sinwar has been appointed as the new leader of militant movement Hamas. He has assumed the charge of the Gaza-based Islamist group's political bureau and became the highest-ranking official in the organisation. "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 the group said.
Sinwar’s appointment was necessitated after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, who previously held this position, in Iran's capital Tehran.
Who is Yahya Sinwar?
Born on October 29, 1962, Sinwar tops the list of ‘most wanted’ in Israel. Tel Avis believes he had orchestrated October 7 attacks, which fuelled the unrest in the middle east. The 61-year-old has also been blacklisted by the United States as an international terrorist.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) earlier released a video that depicted a man, supposedly Sinwar, walking through a tunnel in Gaza with his family members.
Sinwar formed Hamas’ internal security unit Majd in late 80s. The establishment reportedly targeted Israel’s supporters in Palestine.
Considered one of the most extreme figures of the Islamist group, he has spent much of his life in Israeli jails. Nonetheless, in 2011, he was among 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners released by Israel in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an IDF soldier who had been held captive by Hamas for over five years.
However, Yahya Sinwar has remained in hiding since October 7 attack in Israel.
What’s happening in the backdrop of war:
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday spoke with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and bring a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, the White House said.
Meanwhile, the US military successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle and two Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the Red Sea.