The Israeli army claimed Thursday to have “eliminated” Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar during an operation in the Gaza Strip.
Sinouar, also known as Abu Ibrahim, was born on October 29, 1962 in Khan Younes. Long unknown to the general public, he became known for his alleged role in the events of October 7, which he allegedly orchestrated.
Aged 61 and leader since 2017 of the movement in Gaza, he was named political leader of Hamas after the death of Ismaïl Haniyeh killed in Tehran on July 31 in an attack blamed on Israel.
Sinouar is a veteran of Hamas, having headed the group’s intelligence service in the late 1980s. He has been involved in numerous actions against Israel, including the kidnapping and assassination of several Israelis and Palestinians suspected of collaboration with the Jewish State.
Arrested in 1989, he was convicted by Israeli courts for the murder of a dozen people. While incarcerated, he suffered serious health problems, but was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange. Since his release, he has rejoined the ranks of Hamas, becoming leader of the Gaza Strip in 2017.
Often described as a “hawk”, Sinouar embodies the hardest wing of Hamas, contrasting with the more moderate approach of his predecessor, Ismaïl Haniyé. While Hamas’s political leadership is primarily based in Qatar, Sinouar wields considerable influence by de facto ruling the Gaza Strip.
On the negotiation front, Yahya Sinouar showed firmness. According to Israeli media sources, he presented several demands for a possible ceasefire with Israel, including an immediate cessation of hostilities without conditions, opposition to the forced exile of some Palestinian prisoners and clarifications on the materials authorized for reconstruction in Gaza, particularly those necessary for military infrastructure.
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