Yahya Sinwar

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Yahya Sinwar, who served as Hamas’s leader in Gaza, lost his life in 2024 during an Israeli attack.

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Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar

Birth Date

January 11965

Death Date

May 12024

Education

Gaza Islamic University Department of Arabic Language

Position

Hamas Gaza Leader (2017–2024)

Notable Role

identified as one of the senior organisers of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel

Prison Term

Arrested in 1988; received four life sentences; released in 2011 in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange

Works

Thorns and Carnations: The Unknown Story of Palestine

Education

Yahya Ibrahim Hassan al-Sinwar was born in 1962 in a refugee camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza. His family migrated from Ashkelon to Gaza following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He studied Arabic Language and Literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. During his university years, he became increasingly politicized and established connections with Islamic movements.

Political Career

In the 1980s, he was among the founding members of Hamas and played an active role in the organization’s internal security structure. He established the internal intelligence network “al-Majd,” which was responsible for identifying individuals accused of collaborating with Israel. In 1988, he was arrested for his activities against Israel and sentenced to four life terms on charges related to the killing of four Israeli soldiers. After spending many years in prison, he was released in 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange deal for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Following his release, Sinwar’s influence within Hamas grew significantly, leading to his election as the leader of Gaza in 2017, a position he retained after being re-elected in 2021.

Role in the October 7 Event

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale, surprise attack against Israel. Israeli authorities identified Yahya Sinwar as one of the principal architects of the assault and placed him at the center of Hamas’s military and political decision-making in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister referred to him as the “Bin Laden of Gaza.” Following the attacks, Sinwar became one of the top figures on Israel’s most-wanted list.

Passing

In May 2024, it was announced that he had died during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, and Hamas also confirmed Sinwar’s death. According to reports from Anadolu Agency, it was revealed that in the three days leading up to his death, he had not eaten anything.^【1】 However, conflicting statements and uncertainties remained regarding the exact place and circumstances of his death.