Hamas struggles to rebuild after Sinwar’s death: This is how the group has reorganized in Gaza

If history is useful for anything, it is to show it Death of a leader does not mean the end of an ideaAnd less in the Middle East. The Palestinian group also wanted to make the same claim. Hamas after killing his boss Yahya Sinwar Last October 16th. “His death will not end Patience Nor with reason,” he defended in a statement confirming the loss. But, although the events since the movement’s birth in the 1980s confirm this, Hamas is now experiencing an exceptionally bad moment. In July, an attack attributed to Israel killed its political leader, Ismail Haniya, in Tehran and less than three months later, Sinwar, who had taken power from Haniya for a year, was killed. Thousands of its fighters were killed in a prolonged war. Young people continue joining their ranks Driven by anger and grief at one of the deadliest conflicts in recent decades. At the moment, they are operating without a clear leader and waiting to discover the future of Hamas.

Hamas is organized in such a way that the movement can survive Above personality. Throughout history, the group has carried out assassinations of its leaders to such an extent that it has overshadowed its great military and intelligence power. israelThe massacre, which took place on October 7, 2023, left approximately 1,150 Israelis dead and 250 civilians abducted, a hundred of whom remain captive in Gaza. Hebrew officials then pointed to Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the enclave. brain attackAnd they considered him a “dead man walking” for over a year. During this entire time, Sinwar was hidden and away from any electronic equipment that would allow the Israelis to track him. For this reason, the armed movement has been forced to learn work independently in the field By Sinwar.

The militant organization has become active in Gaza in recent months decentralization, guerrilla techniques Hamas-affiliated militants have condemned Israel’s continued occupation of the Strip more than a year after the military offensive began. Furthermore, the brutality and widespread destruction of the attacks, coupled with massive civilian casualties, have inspired many youth – who now have nothing to lose – to join the resistance movement. Israel has killed the leader abroad and the leader in Gaza who was in charge there ceasefire talksFar from taking advantage of Sinwar’s defeat in talks, Prime Minister binyamin netanyahu It appears prepared to continue the military offensive focused on clearing northern Gaza, which would have a very serious impact on the civilian population.

Committee in Doha

Apart from restraining his members, Sinwar may die with the weapon in his hand and fighting till his last breath. inspire militiamen To continue the fight for Hamas. He says, “Sinwar’s death will not affect the level of fighting in Gaza.” middle east eye Amer Al SabailehJordanian political analyst and political science professor. “There will probably be a situation of resistance chaotic decentralizationAnd it may be difficult for the Israelis to control it,” he adds. For most, the question is who will take decision Now in Hamas and hence, in Gaza. At the moment, according to several sources in the group, they are all going to go through a Doha Steering Committeecomposed of five membersIt was formed in August after Haniya’s assassination to facilitate decision-making given the difficulty of communication with Sinwar in Gaza before his death.

The Governing Committee, all of whose members reside in Qatar, is composed of representatives from the two Palestinian territories and the diaspora, namely, khalil al haya for Gaza, zaher jabareen and for the West Bank Khaled Meshaal For Palestinians abroad. It also includes the head of Hamas’s Shura Advisory Council. mohammed darwishand the Secretary of the Political Bureau, who is never identified for security reasons. Hamas plans in March internal elections And that’s probably what will happen when they choose Sinwar’s replacement. Until then, it would be the committee that would take strategic political and military decisions during the war and possibly in the future.

potential candidates

At present several names are being considered as possible candidates. The one that seems to be the loudest is that of Sinwar’s own brother, Mohammad Sinwaryounger brother is a major general Al Qassam BrigadeThe armed wing of Hamas, which can take over if it survives. But some experts say difficulties in communicating with Sinwar in recent months have taught senior Hamas officials a lesson that would lead them to choose a leader who outside GazaAs Khaled MeshaalThe group’s main representative amid the Palestinian exodus and the group’s strongest figure abroad after the assassinations of Haniya and the vice-chairman of the political bureau, Saleh Al ArouriIn Beirut last January. Currently he holds one of these Vice President posts.

look at each other khalil al hayaDeputy and resident of Sinwar in Qatar. He is the current leader of the Hamas delegation to the ceasefire talks between the group and Israel, and has deep knowledge, connections and understanding of the situation in Gaza. Following Sinwar’s death, Al Hague insisted that Hamas would not return any hostages “before the offensive on Gaza ends and the withdrawal from Gaza”, thus demonstrating Group status has not changedAl Haya is considered close to Iran, but less obstinate than Sinwar and closer to Haniya. The torch is also seen more moderate figureBut closer to Turkey and Qatar than Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. In contrast, Sinwar was seen as a hardliner with close ties to Hamas’s armed wing. That may have been his sentence, because that’s how he died, fighting till his last breath.

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