GAZA - Hamas has named its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, as the movement’s new political chief to replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran by an Israeli drone in a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty.

Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in an interview that Israel remains committed to killing Sinwar following news of his election as the new leader of Hamas’s political bureau.

Who is Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh’s successor as Hamas chief?

Hamas has appointed its Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar as the political chief-at-large to succeed Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in a suspected Israeli attack in Tehran last week.

The announcement by the Palestinian group came on Tuesday as tensions skyrocketed across the Middle East, with Iran promising revenge against Israel for Haniyeh’s killing on its soil.

Israel has not confirmed or denied its involvement in the July 31 attack.

Seen as the architect of the October 7 attack against Israel, Sinwar will now try to push the movement through uncertain times across the region from an unknown location in Gaza.

The Gaza-based Palestinian leader is public enemy number one in Israel. So, by choosing him as the head of its political bureau, Hamas is sending a message of defiance to the Israeli government.