Israel Vows to Eliminate New Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar as Gaza War Escalates

Israel has pledged to eliminate the new Hamas chief, Yahya Sinwar, who is accused of masterminding the deadly October 7 attack. As the Gaza conflict enters its 11th month, regional tensions are escalating.

Sinwar’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last week. In a statement from a military base, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s resolve to defend itself, stating, “We are prepared both defensively and offensively.”

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli army chief, vowed to “find him (Sinwar), attack him,” and force Hamas to appoint a new leader. Sinwar, who has led Hamas in Gaza since 2017, has been in hiding since the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history.

A senior Hamas official told AFP that Sinwar’s selection signals the organization’s continued commitment to resistance. Analysts suggest that Sinwar, who is believed to be closer to Tehran than Haniyeh, is less likely to agree to a ceasefire.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stressed Sinwar’s critical role in achieving a ceasefire, calling him “the primary decider.”

Both Israeli and Gazan civilians have expressed unease about Sinwar’s appointment. Mohammad al-Sharif, a displaced Gazan, commented, “He is a fighter. How will negotiations take place?” In Tel Aviv, a logistics company manager named Hanan remarked that Hamas’s choice indicates a preference for a more militant approach.

Hezbollah Pledges Retaliation
Hamas’s ally Hezbollah has vowed to avenge the deaths of Haniyeh and its military commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced in a televised address that the group would retaliate either independently or as part of a coordinated response with Iran-backed factions.

The US has deployed additional warships and jets to the region and has urged both Israel and Iran to avoid escalation. President Joe Biden has engaged with regional leaders, and Blinken has communicated the need for restraint to both Israel and Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Netanyahu to “avoid a cycle of reprisals” and delivered a similar message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian, in turn, called for an immediate halt to Western arms sales and support to Israel.

Ongoing Violence and International Response
Israel has not commented on Haniyeh’s assassination but confirmed its role in the strike that killed Shukr. Throughout the Gaza war, Hezbollah has engaged in near-daily cross-border skirmishes with Israeli troops.

The security situation remains volatile, with recent Israeli strikes killing both a Hezbollah fighter and a civilian near the Lebanese border. The Israeli military also reported destroying a Hezbollah launcher used to send drones toward the Golan Heights.

Numerous airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon due to security concerns, and the United Nations has temporarily reduced its staff presence in the country. The conflict has drawn in Iran-backed militants from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

The October 7 Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages, with 111 still held in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 39,677 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The war has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.4 million residents and causing severe food shortages. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faced international condemnation for suggesting it might be “justified” to starve Gaza to free hostages.

The EU, France, and the UK have all condemned Smotrich’s remarks, with the EU calling them a display of “contempt for international law and basic principles of humanity.”