Yahya Sinwar was born in 1962 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. He co-founded the Hamas internal security service, Majd, in the 1980s. Arrested by Israel in 1988 for his involvement in terrorism, Sinwar was sentenced to four life terms but was released in a 2011 prisoner exchange. In 2017, he became the leader of Hamas in Gaza. Known for his hardline stance, Sinwar has been pivotal in orchestrating military strategies against Israel.
Yahya Sinwar has been appointed as the new leader of Hamas, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh who was recently assassinated. Sinwar, considered a key figure in the October 7 attacks on Israel, has been involved in planning Hamas' military strategies and has spent significant time in Israeli prisons. His appointment comes amid ongoing tensions and violent exchanges between Israel and Hamas
