Israel reacts angrily as Sinwar becomes Hamas’s top leader, negotiator

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israel has reacted angrily to Yahya Sinwar’s appointment as the new leader of Hamas’s political bureau, following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Hamas on Tuesday announced that it had chosen Sinwar, who heads the movement inside the Gaza Strip, as the new leader of the group’s political bureau.

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.

The decision comes after Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on 31 July. Haniyeh had traveled to Iran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian, the new Iranian president, and was staying at a residence for war veterans where he was reportedly struck by a “projectile”.

Unlike Haniyeh, who spent the duration of the Israeli war on Gaza outside of the besieged enclave, Sinwar has been inside Gaza where he has been a continuous target of Israel’s military.

Sinwar had become Israel’s number one target, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had abandoned efforts to rescue the Israeli hostages in Gaza and instead made pursuing Sinwar his main priority, Israeli officials have said.

Sinwar is seen by Israel as the mastermind behind the October 7 operation “Al-Aqsa Flood”.

Asked about the Hamas announcement in an interview with the Saudi-based Al Arabiya news channel on Tuesday, Israel’s military Spokesman Daniel Hagaeri said, “There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar and that is next to Muhammad Deif and all the terrorists who are responsible for October 7. This is the only place we are preparing and designating for him.”

Foreign Minister Israel Katz echoed Hagari’s comments, releasing a statement late Tuesday that said Hamas’s decision was “yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organization off the face of the earth.”

In a new post on X on Wednesday, Katz claimed Sinwar’s promotion sends “a clear message to the world that the Palestinian issue is now completely controlled by Iran and Hamas”.

The Israeli minister also claimed Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is justified because it is the only thing stopping Hamas from fully taking over. He also blamed Iran, a Hamas ally, for allegedly trying to smuggle weapons into Jordan and the occupied West Bank.

“Israel must maintain control over security and foreign affairs to prevent the establishment of another Iranian-Islamist extremist stronghold and enable Palestinians to manage their internal affairs,” said Katz.