Shruti Suman
In the week following the shocking Hamas attack on Israeli cities, the name Yahya Sinwar has been widely discussed. Israeli authorities have labeled Sinwar as the “face of evil” and accused him of orchestrating the attacks that resulted in the deaths of 1,300 Israelis. As Israel prepares for a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson for the Israeli forces has stated that Sinwar and his associates are the target.
https://x.com/IDF/status/1713763024803160275?s=20
Early Life
Yahya Sinwar was born in 1962 in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza that was under Egypt’s control at the time. Israeli forces have dubbed him the “butcher of Khan Younis” due to his association with this hometown. According to reports, Sinwar’s family was originally settled in Ashkelon, which is now part of southern Israel. They had to relocate to Gaza in 1948 when Israel took control of Ashkelon, previously known as al-Majdal. Sinwar in terms of education holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic studies from the Islamic University in Gaza.
Years in Prison
Sinwar has spent a total of approximately 24 years in prison. His first arrest was in 1982 for subversive activities. In the years that followed, he teamed up with Salah Shehade to establish a unit that targeted Israeli informants within the Palestinian movement. Shehade was killed by Israeli forces in 2002 while he was leading Hamas’ military wing.
After the founding of Hamas in 1987, the unit Sinwar co-founded became a significant branch within the organization. In 1988, Sinwar was arrested for his involvement in the killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians whom he suspected of collaborating with Israel. He was subsequently sentenced to four life sentences the following year.
https://x.com/IDF/status/1712810990495035482?s=20
Release
In 2006, a team from Hamas’ military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, used a tunnel to infiltrate Israeli territory and attacked an army post, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers, injuries to others, and the capture of one soldier, Gilad Shalit. Shalit was held captive for five years and was eventually released in a prisoner exchange deal in 2011. To secure Shalit’s release, Israel freed 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners, including Sinwar, who had spent 22 years in prison.
Rise to Power
Following his release, Sinwar climbed the ranks within Hamas, particularly within its military wing. In 2015, he was added to the US list of wanted international terrorists. A US Department of State document describing Sinwar as a terrorist mentions his role in founding the predecessor of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing. In 2017, Sinwar was elected as the leader of Hamas in Gaza.
Ruler of Gaza
Yahya Sinwar holds the second-highest position in the Hamas leadership, just after Ismail Haniyeh, who is the head of the organization’s political bureau. With Haniyeh in voluntary exile, Sinwar effectively governs Gaza. He consistently advocates for armed struggle against Israel and opposes any compromise. Known for his passionate speeches, Sinwar reportedly commands unwavering loyalty from Hamas members. He is also known for closely monitoring Hamas operatives.
One example of this vigilant control was the execution of Hamas commander Mahmoud Ishtiwi. Ishtiwi was accused of embezzlement in 2015, and in the following year, he was executed and later accused of “moral crimes.” Reports suggested that Ishtiwi was homosexual, and Sinwar feared that this could lead to extortion and compromise within Hamas.
Israel has accused Sinwar of masterminding the recent attacks on Israeli cities. Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht declared, “Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil. He is the mastermind behind this, like [Osama] bin Laden was for 9/11.” He added that Sinwar earned his reputation by targeting Palestinians whom he believed were collaborators and became known as the “butcher of Khan Younis.” The Israeli defense spokesperson emphasized that Israel will not spare Sinwar and that he and his team are a top priority for their operations, suggesting a potentially lengthy campaign.
