Was Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar once treated for a brain tumor in Israeli prison?
Sinwar spent 23 years in Israeli prisons, where he not only learned Hebrew but also became an expert on Israeli politics. His time in prison is notable particularly for the medical treatment he received.
In the latest developments from the Middle East, Hamas has announced Yahya Sinwar as the successor to Ismail Haniyeh as the political chief of the organization.
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This appointment follows the assassination of Haniyeh in a suspected Israeli attack in Tehran on July 31, a move that has significantly escalated regional tensions. Iran has promised retaliation against Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the incident.
Yahya Sinwar medical treatment in Israeli prison
Yahya Sinwar, now positioned at the helm of Hamas, is one of its most uncompromising figures. Born in 1962 in Khan Younis, he first became known in the early 1980s for his role in anti-occupation activities while studying at the Islamic University in Gaza.
A co-founder of the Qassam Brigades, the militant wing of Hamas, Sinwar was arrested in 1988 by Israeli forces and sentenced to four life sentences for his involvement in the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian informants suspected of collaborating with Israel.
A fun fact about Yahya Sinwar
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Sinwar spent 23 years in Israeli prisons, where he not only learned Hebrew but also became an expert on Israeli politics. His time in prison is notable particularly for the medical treatment he received; in 2006, during his incarceration, he underwent a crucial operation to remove a brain tumor.
Orit Adato, a former Israeli prison commissioner, highlighted this when she spoke to the Times of Israel, countering claims of inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israel: "When they say they are not being treated well, I would ask you and others to give a phone call to one specific person, Yahya Sinwar, who is alive nowadays just because of life-saving surgery he was given," she stated.
Sinwar's increasing popularity within Hamas
Released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Sinwar quickly rose through the ranks of Hamas. He was elected to its political bureau in 2012 and assumed the leadership of Hamas in Gaza in 2017 after being designated a specially designated global terrorist by the United States in 2015. He succeeded Haniyeh, who had moved on to lead the group¡¯s political bureau.
Reuters
Sinwar's leadership style has been marked by a low public profile, particularly since the October 7 attack against Israel, which he is believed to have orchestrated. However, in a 2021 interview with Vice News, he made clear the Palestinian stance under his leadership: "While Palestinians do not seek war due to its high cost, we will not surrender."
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The recent appointment signals a continued stance of defiance against Israel from Hamas, with Sinwar viewed by the Israeli government as a top adversary. Israeli officials have not hidden their intention to target him, and his ability to steer Hamas through these tumultuous times from an undisclosed location in Gaza will be a key factor in the ongoing conflict dynamics in the region.
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Kumar Debvrat is a copyeditor at Indiatimes. He writes about trending topics in India, from human-interest stories to cricket. He has a sharp eye for detail and a passion for storytelling.
