Hamas appoints Yahya Sinwar, linked to October 7 attacks, as new leader

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced that Yahya Sinwar, their top official in Gaza responsible for planning the October 7 attacks in Israel, has been selected as their new leader. In a statement released on Tuesday, Hamas confirmed Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly killed in Iran last week in an assumed Israeli airstrike. Despite not having made any public appearances since the October 7 attacks that led to the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the taking of around 250 hostages, Sinwar has been chosen to lead Hamas. The incident prompted Israel to launch a campaign in Gaza that has been ongoing for 10 months.