Yahya Sinwar: The Rise of a Hamas Leader
Yahya Sinwar, recently appointed as the political chief of Hamas, is recognized as a pivotal figure behind the October 7 Hamas-led offensive against Israel. Known for his significant influence within the militant organization, Sinwar has operated largely from the shadows, utilizing a network of underground tunnels beneath Gaza. His elevation to the role of Hamas’s top diplomatic leader on Tuesday, following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last week, marks a consolidation of his authority within the group.
Formative Years
Born in 1962 in Gaza, Sinwar’s early life was shaped by the traumatic experiences of his family, who were among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs displaced during the conflicts surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel. This profound sense of loss and injustice played a crucial role in his decision to join Hamas in the 1980s.
Sinwar was recruited by Hamas’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who appointed him as the head of an internal security unit known as Al Majd. In this capacity, he was responsible for identifying and punishing individuals suspected of breaching Islamic moral codes or collaborating with Israeli authorities, a position that ultimately led to his arrest by Israeli forces.
A Crucible of Transformation
In 1988, Sinwar was imprisoned for the killing of four Palestinians whom he accused of apostasy or collaboration with Israel, as documented in Israeli court records. His incarceration lasted over two decades, during which he took the opportunity to learn Hebrew and gain a deeper understanding of Israeli culture and society.
While behind bars, Sinwar capitalized on an online university program and diligently consumed Israeli news. He translated tens of thousands of pages of contraband Hebrew-language autobiographies, which had been written by former heads of Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, into Arabic.
Dr. Yuval Bitton, an Israeli dentist who treated Sinwar during his imprisonment, reflected on their interactions, noting that Sinwar would discreetly share the translated materials with fellow inmates, allowing them to study the counterterrorism strategies employed by Israeli authorities. Dr. Bitton remarked that Sinwar often referred to himself as a “specialist in the Jewish people’s history,” showcasing his commitment to understanding the adversary he faced.
