The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on Tuesday, August 6 that the movement’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, will succeed the late Ismail Haniyeh as the leader of the movement’s political bureau. Sinwar is believed to be the mastermind of October 7 attacks and is seen as a hardliner against the Israeli occupation within Hamas.
Sinwar is succeeding Haniyeh, who was assassinated by Israel in Tehran on Wednesday, July 31. Choosing Sinwar as Hamas’s leader comes at a very crucial time, during which Israel and its allies, above all the United States, are awaiting the promised revenge of Iran and Hezbollah for Israel’s assassinations of top leaders within the Axis of Resistance, Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr.
While the US has been relentlessly attempting to de-escalate the situation in order to prevent the eruption of regional war, Hamas’ decision marks an escalation, foreshadowing a juncture in the prisoners’ swap deal and ceasefire talks with Israel. Although Hezbollah and Iran have not launched the prospected attacks on Israel yet, the attacks are expected to be launched in the coming days.
In speaking to media outlets, Hamas senior official and spokesperson Osama Hamdan stated that Sinwar would continue ceasefire talks, blaming the Israeli occupation and the US for stalemating them. “The problem in negotiations is not the change in Hamas,” Hamdan said.
Hamdan hailed the movement’s decision to select Sinwar as its leader, a sign that Hamas “remains steadfast in the battlefield and in politics.” Hamadan further praised Sinwar as “the one who led the fighting for more than 305 days, and is still steadfast in the field.”
On the other hand, the spokesperson of the Israeli Occupation Forces Daniel Hagari reacted to Sinwar’s assignment as Hamas’s leader saying, “There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Muhammad Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists. That is the only place we’re preparing and intending for him.”
On Tuesday, August 6, Hezbollah launched airstrikes on two Israeli military targets in the coastal city of Nahariya, in the northern occupied Palestinian territories. The attacks left 19 Israeli people injured, according to media reports. Hezbollah’s drone attacks were followed by low-flying Israeli fighter jets breaking the sound barrier over the Lebanese capital of Beirut and other areas within Lebanon on Tuesday, as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was about to deliver a speech during the memorial service of Hezbollah’s top military commander Fuad Shukr.
During his speech, Nasrallah commented on the awaited attacks of Hezbollah and Iran, stating, “Israel’s week-long wait is part of punishment and retaliation.” Nasrallah added that “today’s state of waiting is part of the battle and leaves a great shadow on the occupation.” The Hezbollah chief also warned Israel, saying, “Iran, Hezbollah and Yemen will respond after the assassination of Haniyeh, Shukr and the bombing of Hodeidah.”
The recent events in different areas within the region and on all levels indicate that the situation is at a tipping point. The West Bank has been another terrain for escalation in the region, as Israel intensified its military operations and assassinations across the occupied territories. Within the last 24 hours, the Israeli Occupation Forces launched raids and airstrikes, killing at least 12 Palestinians in different parts of the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that Tuesday, August 6 marked one of the deadliest days in the West Bank during the last few months.
