US intelligence agencies are assessing the likelihood that a senior Hamas official will take the place of Yahya Sinwar, who was reportedly killed in an overnight operation by Israeli forces.
CNN reports this.
It was believed in US establishment circles that Sinwar’s ouster would open the door for Israel to negotiate a truce, but the new Hamas leader may not show the same willingness to negotiate. Several candidates are being considered among Sinwar’s possible successors, including his brother Mohammed Sinwar.
Mohammed has taken a similarly tough stance, according to a former senior U.S. official. If he comes to power, “negotiations will be completely interrupted.”
“But given that most of the organization is exhausted, this may favor an outsider who is likely more willing to negotiate,” the report says.
Another contender for the job is Khalil al-Hayya, whom the United States considers a more acceptable figure. It was he who led the negotiations in Doha after the ouster of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in July.
Another potential contender is Khaled Mashaal, but his support for the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has strained relations with Iran, a key Hamas ally, likely reducing his chances of becoming Hamas’ terrorist leader.
Previously, Cursor wrote that IDF and Shin Bet representatives said that on the night of October 16, 2024, after a year-long operation to search for him, IDF Southern Command forces successfully eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization in the southern Gaza Strip.
