Yahya Sinwar is a prominent and controversial figure as the leader of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip. Born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in 1962, Sinwar rose through the ranks of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, before becoming the group’s political leader in Gaza in 2017.
Sinwar is considered a hardliner, known for his staunch opposition to Israel and his role in orchestrating Hamas’s military strategies. He spent over 20 years in Israeli prisons after being convicted of leading operations against Israel, but he was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal. Following his release, Sinwar quickly returned to Hamas’s leadership, solidifying his influence over both the military and political wings of the organization.
Under Sinwar’s leadership, Hamas has continued its confrontations with Israel, and he has been a vocal critic of the Palestinian Authority, accusing them of compromising with Israeli forces. Internationally, Sinwar is a divisive figure, with supporters viewing him as a symbol of Palestinian resistance, while others see him as a major obstacle to peace in the region
