After more than a year of tracking, the Israeli army has finally ousted its number 1 enemy, nicknamed “the face of the devil”. Leader of the Islamist organization Hamas since the death of Ismaïl Haniyeh in July 2024, Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind of the massacres of October 7, 2023. His body was discovered in the rubble of an operation carried out in the Gaza Strip, declared the Israeli army this Thursday, October 17.
While he had promised a “long war of attrition” to Israel, his disappearance is a massive blow to the military organization. It also raises many questions about Hamas’ remaining capabilities, with its leadership structure being particularly opaque. With the most feared leader eliminated, who now leads the armed group? Does he have the ability to stand? This is what we know about the remaining key figures, according to the New York Times.
Khaled Mechaal, former political leader
Exiled from the West Bank since 1967, Khaled Mechaal became head of Hamas’s political bureau in 1996, leading the latter from exile. Its objective: to incite Arab public opinion to rise up against Israel. He was president of the Islamist organization for twenty-one years (from 1996 to 2017). Having spent his political career moving from one Arab country to another (he has lived in Kuwait, Jordan, Syria), he is now mainly based in Doha, Qatar.
Khalil al-Hayya, deputy leader in Gaza
Close to Yahya Sinwar and for a long time his deputy, Khalil al-Hayya is a leading figure in Hamas in Gaza. “Diplomatic face” of the group and a seasoned negotiator, he had been tipped according to Palestinian political experts to replace Ismaïl Haniyeh this summer. Also exiled in Qatar, he could play a central role in the reorganization of the group after the death of Sinwar.
Moussa Abou Marzouk, member of the political bureau
He is one of the founding figures of the group. He began his political career in the United Arab Emirates, where he helped form the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood, the basis for the creation of Hamas. Exiled in the United States, he played a key role in the creation of Islamic institutions there before being arrested in 1996 on terrorism charges. Deported to Jordan after twenty-two months of detention, he remained an influential leader within the group.
Mohammed Deïf, commander of the armed forces
At the head of Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deïf is an elusive leader, renowned for having survived numerous assassination attempts. Accused of being one of the architects of the October 7 attacks, he has directed Hamas’s military operations since 2002. He has orchestrated several major attacks against Israel, including a series of suicide bombings in 1996. Although the Israeli army has announced his death several times, Hamas has never confirmed this information. Mohammed Deif remains one of Israel’s most feared leaders and a symbol of Hamas’ armed resistance.
On the announcement of the death of Yahya Sinwar, Joe Biden evoked a “Happy day for Israel, the United States and the world”adding that its elimination made it possible to raise a “major obstacle” for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. It remains to be seen whether the group will manage to restructure itself and maintain its capacity for resistance.
Source: www.slate.fr
