Mohammed Sinwar Takes Over Gaza Leadership after Brother’s Death
- Milton Quintanilla Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Oct 24, 2024
The brother of the killed Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, is expected to take over the terrorist organization in Gaza. Yahya’s brother, Mohammed Sinwar, is set to take over as the leader of Hamas in the Gaza branch rather than as Hamas’ overall leader. Alongside his brother and Hamas’ military chief, Mohammed Deif, Sinwar was among the chief planners of the group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
According to All Israel News, he spent the past several years serving as Hamas’ top commander in the southern part of the enclave and served as its head for logistics and manpower. He also survived an assassination attempt by Israel during the Gaza War in 2021.
As a member of Hamas’ highest military council, Mohammed was personally responsible for the construction of the largest tunnel discovered by Israeli forces in Gaza, which approached the Erez border crossing from the Khan Younis area.
According to the Foundation for Freedom of Democracies (FDD), Mohammed has also coordinated Hamas’ efforts with Iran and Hezbollah, which are considered important relations if he takes on the leadership role in Gaza.
During the current war, his private home was struck by Israel, and security experts believe that Mohammed led much of Hamas’ fighting on the ground while his brother Yahya was in hiding.
The IDF has placed a $300,000 bounty for information leading to his capture, one of the highest rewards provided in exchange for a Hamas commander, The Christian Post reported.
While Mohammed is the one most likely to take his brother’s place as the leader of Hamas’ Gaza branch, the overall leadership is likely to be given to one of the Hamas leaders located in Qatar.
The most prominent candidates include Sinwar’s deputy Khalil al-Hayya, who is known to have good relations with Iran, and Sinwar’s predecessor Khaled Meshaal, who has been against the Iran-friendly course of the group in the past few years.
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Times Now
