Yahya Sinwar appointed new Hamas chief

Palestinian Resistance group, Hamas, on Tuesday appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new Political chief, Anadolu Agency reports.

Sinwar will replace Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new President on 31 July, the group said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of assassinating Haniyeh, but Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its responsibility.

Sinwar is Israel’s most-wanted Hamas leader, with Tel Aviv accusing him of masterminding the 7 October attack, which prompted Israel to launch a devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip that killed more than 39,600 people since last 7 October, according to local health authorities.

Ten months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on 6 May.

READ: The new leader of Hamas in Gaza is Yahya Al-Sinwar (2017)