The current head of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, has reportedly passed away. Speculation surrounds potential successors for Hamas' leadership.
Despite Sinwar's passing being a significant setback for Hamas, it doesn't mean the immediate end of the group. Hamas has asserted their intention to persist in battle, asserting that eliminating leaders, including Sinwar, doesn't signify the demise of their movement.
Hamas' political office issued a statement on Friday confirming Sinwar's death, stating, "Hamas has grown stronger and more popular with each passing day, and these leaders have become an inspiration for future generations to continue the quest for a liberated Palestine."
With rumors circulating about Sinwar's successor, let's examine what the future holds for Hamas:
It remains uncertain whether Sinwar left any instructions regarding his replacement, but his younger brother Mohammed Sinwar is widely regarded as his presumptive heir. Similar to his brother, Mohammed is a hardline militant who assumed the role of Hamas' military commander recently.
Mohammed's current status remains unclear. Israeli media reported on Friday that an IDF spokesperson stated they are actively searching for him. A senior Israeli official previously revealed that the brothers had spent a significant amount of time together in the past year and were even together as recently as August.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy chief of Hamas' political bureau, who helped found Hamas, could also be a potential contender for the position. He was deported following his five-year stay in the United States, after the FBI classified him as a terrorist.
Khaled Meshaal, the group's former political chief, is also seen as a strong contender for the role. Meshaal has extensive international recognition, having met with notable figures such as former United States President Jimmy Carter, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
However, Meshaal may face hurdles due to his support for the Sunni uprising against Syrian President Bashar al Assad, as Hamas, itself a Shia group, enjoys the support of the Shia-majority Iran.
Sinwar's deputy Khalil Al Hayya is also viewed as a strong contender. He served as the primary negotiator for Hamas during the recent ceasefire talks in Cairo and is currently based in Qatar.
Both Meshaal and Al Hayya have held prominent positions in Hamas for many years and have been the targets of Israeli assassination attempts in the past. In 1997, Israeli Mossad agents, posing as Canadian tourists, sprayed a poisonous substance into Meshaal's ear. The incident earned widespread attention, as the Israeli intelligence service agents were subsequently apprehended in Jordan.
Israel has eliminated Hamas' previous leaders: In 2004, they assassinated Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. A few weeks later, his successor Abdel Aziz Rantisi was also killed. While Hamas has managed to bounce back from multiple assassinations on its leadership, it is unclear how they will regroup under Sinwar's new organizational structure.
Sinwar bolstered his power during the war, ultimately becoming Hamas' sole decision-maker in Gaza following the assassinations of the other two top Hamas officials there. Mohammed al-Masri – widely known as Mohammed Deif – was the commander of Hamas' military arm, Al-Qassam Brigades, and was killed in an Israeli airstrike in July. Deif's deputy Marwan Issa was also killed in March.
Sinwar ascended to Hamas' highest rank following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, in July. Iran accused Israel of being responsible for the killing, while the IDF declined to comment on the allegation.
The statement from Hamas' political office highlights the group's ongoing resilience and growing influence in the world, as they noted that their leaders, including Sinwar, have become an inspiration for future generations seeking a liberated Palestine. Despite Israeli efforts to eliminate key Hamas leaders like Sinwar and others before him, the world has witnessed Hamas' ability to bounce back and continue their struggle.
