Gazans question logic behind appointment of Sinwar to lead Hamas

War-weary Gazans voice concern after Hamas appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new leader, fearing his violent past might hamper efforts for the ceasefire they yearn for.

“We don’t know how Hamas is thinking or what led them to choose Yahya Sinwar as their chief, especially when his whereabouts are unknown,” 29-year-old Mohammad al-Sharif tells AFP in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah.

“He is a fighter. How will negotiations take place?” asks the displaced man originally from Gaza City, adding: “We want nothing but the end of the war.”

Yesterday Hamas announced it had chosen Sinwar, 61, the man who masterminded the October 7 massacre that sparked the war in Gaza, to replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31.

Sinwar has not been seen since the attack on Israel, with many reports claiming he is operating from one of several underground tunnels in Gaza.

Ibrahim Abu Daqa, 35, echoes Sharif’s disappointment over the choice of Sinwar to succeed Haniyeh.

“In my opinion, appointing Yahya Sinwar as the head of Hamas was inappropriate at this critical stage,” he tells AFP.

Also displaced in Deir al-Balah, and originally from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Abu Daqa says that the decision “may lead to negative results on multiple levels, including halting negotiations or failing to make progress in them, especially since Israel is seeking him for assassination.”

“The occupation killed the negotiator Ismail Haniyeh. What will happen with the fighter Yahya Sinwar?” he asks.

A senior Hamas official tells AFP that the selection of Sinwar sent a message that the terror group “continues its path of resistance.”

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.