Yahya Sinwar was brought in to replace Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau who was assassinated in Iran. Sinwar stands out as one of the important figures of the Hamas movement.
Who is Yahya Sinvar?
Yahya Sinwar, 61, was the leader of the Gaza Strip. He is also the founder of the internal security service known as “Majd”, which laid the foundations of Hamas’ security structure. This organization was responsible for interrogating suspected Israeli agents and monitoring the activities of Israeli intelligence services. Sinwar is particularly known for his competence in security matters.
Internal Structure of Hamas
The Hamas Movement has an internal structure consisting of two main branches: the Military Wing and the Political Wing. The Political Wing consists of a tripartite structure. The highest-ranking leader of the Political Wing is the Chairman of the Political Bureau, where Haniyeh sits, and this seat is also considered the leadership seat of the organization.
Leader Determination Process
In Hamas’ leadership structure, the 50-member Shura Council, formed by the Central Shura Council and the Executive Committee, plays a major role. In August 2021, this council appointed Haniyeh as Gaza Chief and elected a new leader by voting among previously agreed names. Sinwar took Haniyeh’s vacant seat.
