The Wall Street Journal has reported that Mohammed Al-Sinwar, the younger brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar, is spearheading efforts to rebuild the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) by recruiting new fighters in Gaza, pushing Israel into a war of attrition.
The report notes that Hamas suffered a significant blow last fall with the assassination of Yahya Al-Sinwar. However, the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has also fueled the emergence of a new generation of fighters, while filling the region with unexploded ordnance that the resistance repurposes into weapons for its continued battles.
Rebuilding Under Mohammed Al-Sinwar’s Leadership
Hamas’ recruitment campaign and ongoing resistance efforts, under the leadership of Mohammed Al-Sinwar, present a new challenge for Israel. Retired Israeli General Amir Avivi stated that the pace at which Hamas is rebuilding its capabilities surpasses the Israeli army’s efforts to dismantle them.
Avivi added, “Mohammed Al-Sinwar is running everything. He is the center of efforts to revive Hamas.” After Yahya Al-Sinwar’s assassination, Hamas officials abroad opted to form a collective leadership council instead of appointing a new leader. However, Hamas fighters in Gaza reportedly rejected this approach and now operate independently under the younger Al-Sinwar’s command, according to Arab mediators involved in ceasefire negotiations with Israel.
A Shadowy Figure
Mohammed Al-Sinwar, approximately 50 years old, was close to his older brother, who was more than a decade his senior. He joined Hamas at an early age and was also closely associated with Mohammed Al-Deif, the leader of Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades.
Unlike his brother, who spent more than two decades in Israeli prisons, Mohammed Al-Sinwar did not serve extended sentences, making him a more enigmatic figure to Israeli intelligence. Operating mainly behind the scenes, he has earned the nickname “The Shadow Man.”
An Israeli official from the Southern Command stated, “We are working hard to locate him.” Meanwhile, political analysts have identified Mohammed Al-Sinwar as Hamas’ top military leader in Gaza, alongside Iz Al-Din Haddad, who commands the group’s forces in northern Gaza.
A History of Resistance
Israeli officials believe Mohammed Al-Sinwar was involved in the 2006 kidnapping of an Israeli soldier, an event that ultimately led to Yahya Al-Sinwar’s release in a prisoner exchange five years later.
Before the latest escalation, Israel estimated that Hamas had around 30,000 fighters organized into 24 brigades, resembling a conventional military structure. According to the Israeli army, it has since dismantled much of that structure, killing approximately 17,000 fighters and arresting thousands more.
