Following the killing of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s former leader in Gaza, in October 2024, his younger brother, Mohammed Sinwar, has been appointed as the new head of the militant group in the Gaza Strip. Mohammed Sinwar, around 50 years old, has long been a member of Hamas and was greatly influenced by his elder sibling, who led the group before his death.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Mohammed Sinwar, the head of Hamas’s military wing, the Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades, has assumed the role of leader in Gaza, working to rebuild the organization’s military capabilities, which have been severely weakened by Israel’s ongoing military operations in the region since October 2023. Despite the Hamas Political Bureau’s decision to switch to a collective leadership after Yahya’s death, Mohammed has taken charge of militant operations, leading Gaza-based factions that refused the collective approach.
Sinwar’s appointment comes in the wake of significant losses for Hamas, including the killing of key figures like Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing, who was killed in a targeted Israeli strike in July 2024. As tensions between Hamas and Israel continue to escalate, particularly since the surprise October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas militants on Israeli territory, Mohammed Sinwar’s leadership marks a pivotal moment in the group’s efforts to reassert its influence in Gaza.
Mohammed Sinwar, who has earned the nickname “Shadow” for his ability to evade Israeli intelligence for years, is believed to have played a key role in organizing the October 7 attack and was also involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He was released in a 2011 prisoner swap for Shalit, along with his brother Yahya.
With the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Sinwar’s leadership is expected to face continued challenges as Israel intensifies its operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military and political structures in the region.
