After 24 Years In Israel Jail, He Went On To Lead Hamas Attacks: Who Is Yahya Sinwar?
As the war in West Asia entered its second week, Israel said that it would take down Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who is on the radar of defence forces in the wake of the October 7 onslaught, a move reportedly being taken by the Palestinian militant group on his directions. They have launched an intense operation to locate Yahya in Gaza.
What happened?
Israel has accused Sinwar, who has been in Israeli jail for over two decades, of masterminding the attacks on Israeli cities last weekend.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told journalists Saturday, "Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil. He is the mastermind behind this, like [Osama] bin Laden was (for 9/11)."
"He built his career on murdering Palestinians when he understood they were collaborators. That's how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis," Hecht added. The defence spokesperson said Israel will not spare Sinwar. "That man and his whole team are in our sights. We will get to that man," he said, adding, "This could be [a] long [campaign]."?
Sinwar has spent a total of about 24 years in prison. He was arrested for the first time in 1982 during his university days, and he befriended Palestinian activists in an Israeli jail and later vowed to dedicate himself to the Palestinian cause.
Where and when?
He was arrested and imprisoned by the Israelis for the second time in 1988.
Why was he jailed?
He was arrested for his role in the murder of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians he suspected of working for Israel. The following year, he was sentenced to four life sentences.
Sinwar was arrested on charges of attempted murder but was subsequently released in 2011 – one of more than 1000 Palestinian inmates who were exchanged for the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage by Hamas for five years.
Sinwar is believed to have involvement in the torture and murder of a Hamas commander, Mahmoud Ishtiwi, who was accused of embezzlement and what Hamas called moral turpitude – code for being a homosexual.
Who is he?
Born in 1962, Sinwar grew up at Khan Younis city in south Gaza, then under Egypt's control. Israeli forces refer to him as the "butcher of Khan Younis" after his hometown. According to reports, Sinwar's family was earlier settled in Ashkelon, now in south Israel, but had to move to Gaza in 1948 after Israel took control of Ashkelon, earlier known as al-Majdal. Sinwar holds a bachelor's degree in Arabic studies from Islamic University in Gaza.
Sinwar is Number 2 in the Hamas leadership after Ismail Haniyeh, head of the organisation's political bureau. With Haniyeh living in voluntary exile, Sinwar is the de facto rule of Gaza. He has consistently advocated armed struggle against Israel and has been against any compromise formula. He is known for his fiery speeches, and reports say he commands the absolute loyalty of the Hamas ranks. Sinwar is also known to take no chances when it comes to keeping Hamas operatives under watch.
He still lives in Khan Younis, the place of his birth in Gaza.In 2015, the US government officially designated Sinwar as a terrorist.
How did he rise the ranks in Hamas?
After Hamas was founded in 1987, the unit Sinwar co-founded became a consolidated arm within the organisation.?In the years after his release, Sinwar rose through the ranks of Hamas, particularly within its military wing.
In 2015, Sinwar entered the US' list of wanted international terrorists. A US Department of State document, announcing Sinwar's designation as terrorist, says he is "known for his role in founding the forerunner of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas".
In 2017, Sinwar was elected as the head of Hamas in Gaza.
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