Has the military wing tightened its grip over Hamas?
The election of military leader Yahya Sanwar as the head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza has raised questions on the movement’s policy at home and abroad and the military wing’s grip over the movement.
All Palestinians have been focused on Hamas’ internal elections, which started Feb. 3 in Gaza and ended with Yahya Sanwar at the head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza.
Sanwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, who is competing to replace Khaled Meshaal as the political bureau head at home and abroad. Meshaal’s term will expire in late March.
Sanwar, 55, is one of Hamas' most prominent military leaders since its inception in 1987. He was arrested by Israel in 1988 for setting up Hamas’ security apparatus, and he was sentenced to four life terms in prison. He was released as part of the 2011 prisoner swap deal, under which 1,027 prisoners were freed in exchange for Hamas releasing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Sanwar served in top Hamas leadership positions and has been a member of its political bureau since 2012, coordinating between Hamas’ political bureau and military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Sanwar was in charge of the dossier related to the Israeli soldiers captured by Hamas in the 2014 war.
