From Refugee Camp to Gaza’s Top Leadership: The Rise of Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar, the new leader of Hamas, has become Israel’s most wanted man following the October 7th attack on southern Israel. Born in 1962 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southeastern Gaza, Sinwar’s life is a testament to the complexities and struggles of the Palestinian cause. His family, refugees from Majdal Askalan (now Ashkelon), were displaced during the creation of Israel in 1948. Sinwar’s early life was marked by hardship, but he pursued education, earning a BA in Arabic studies from the Islamic University of Gaza.
In his early twenties, Sinwar’s involvement with Hamas led to his first arrest. In 1988, he was detained and charged with planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers, receiving four life sentences. Even in prison, Sinwar’s influence grew. He quickly became a leading figure among Palestinian prisoners, known for his ruthless and powerful demeanor. During his time behind bars, Sinwar studied Hebrew, eventually becoming fluent enough to give interviews to Israeli journalists in their own language. In these interviews, he articulated Hamas’ dual approach of political engagement and military resistance.
While imprisoned, Sinwar translated several books and authored works that laid the groundwork for Hamas’s security expertise. Among his writings were “Hamas: Trial and Error,” “Glory,” which documents the operations of Israel’s internal security agency, Shabak, and a novel titled “The Clove Thorn,” which narrates the Palestinian struggle from 1967 until the Intifada.
Sinwar’s freedom came in a landmark prisoner exchange, where Hamas secured the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. This event marked the beginning of Sinwar’s meteoric rise within Hamas. He succeeded Ismail Haniyeh as Hamas’ leader in Gaza and played a crucial role in mending ties with Iran, which had been strained due to the Syrian conflict. Under Sinwar’s leadership, Hamas launched multiple offensives against Israel, further solidifying his position as a key figure in the organization.
The Strategic Mind Behind Hamas: Sinwar’s Role in the October 7th Attacks
Sinwar became Israel’s second most wanted man after Qassam Brigades’ commander Mohammad Al-Deif. Following the October 7th attacks, in which Hamas inflicted significant casualties on Israel, Sinwar topped Israel’s list of targets. Although Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, Sinwar emerged as the new ultimate leader of Hamas. The Israeli military has described Sinwar as a “dead man walking,” but he has managed to evade capture by hiding in Hamas’ underground tunnel network.
Sinwar’s exact whereabouts remain unknown, with only a few close associates aware of his location. He has been reportedly moving constantly to avoid Israeli forces, who are unable to strike him directly due to his proximity to hostages. Despite being in hiding, Sinwar remains in contact with other Hamas leaders and has been involved in negotiations for hostage exchanges.
