Hamas chief Sinwar revives ‘suicide bombings’ after replacing assassinated Haniyeh: Report

Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar ordered his fighters to revive suicide attacks in Israel, shortly after replacing assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, a report in the Wall Street Journal has claimed.

While some senior Hamas members had reservations about the decision, they have been unable to speak up on it, fearing action from their new boss.

A few days after Sinwar took charge of the militant outfit, a Palestinian entered the Israeli capital city of Tel Aviv with a blue backpack, loaded with explosives. Although the bomb exploded before reaching the intended target, it sent the signal that dirty warfare tactics were back on the table.

Despite being involved in militant operations against Israel for a long time, Hamas had largely discontinued suicide bombing two decades ago, primarily due to Israel building a security barrier around the West Bank and boosting itsintelligence-gathering methods to thwart the bombers.

Israel avoids eliminating Sinwar

Sinwar has been missing in action ever since Israel upped the ante and nearly demolished the upper hierarchy of Hamas as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Reports claimed that Israeli security agencies had the opportunity to eliminate Sinwar but decided against it, fearing for the lives of the hostages who arebeing used as human shields by the Hamas chief.

Fearing for his life, Sinwar had even ceased communication with the Qatari officials who are currently mediating the truce deal.

"Sinwar is currently not communicating with us. He has disappeared for us too and has not made contact," the Qatari officials were cited as saying by the Israeli media reports.

Notably, Sinwar succeededIsmail Haniyeh as Hamas chief after the latter was assassinated in Iran. Haniyeh was allegedly neutralised by Israel using an explosive device that was smuggled into the guesthouse whenhe was stayingin Tehran.

Alongside now-killed Mohammed Deif, the head ofQassam Brigades, Sinwar planned the October 7 attacks, whose foundations were set in place after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)carried out a raid on Al Aqsa mosque in May 2021.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Israel-Hamas war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)