Jump to content

Sinwar family

From Deep Politics Wiki


Full article adapted from Wikipedia revision 1370248402 by Wikipedia contributors. Text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting has been adapted; article text and references are retained. Snapshot imported 2026-09-25.
Palestinian political family affiliated with Hamas
<tbody> </tbody>
Sinwar family
Yahya Sinwar
Mohammed Sinwar
The Sinwar brothers[4]
CountryHamas government in Gaza
Place of origin
Village near Majdal
FoundedUnknown
FounderUnknown
Titles
List
Members
List
  • Unnamed father of Yahya, Mohammed and Zakaria
    Yahya Sinwar
    Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar
    Three children of Yahya
    Mohammed Sinwar
    Najwa Sinwar
    Three children Mohammed
    Zakaria Sinwar
    Three children of Zakaria
TraditionsSunni Islam

The Sinwar family[5][6] is a political family which is affiliated with the Hamas.[7][8][15] Members of the family ruled over the Hamas government in Gaza from 2017 until 2024 and again in 2025.

History

The Sinwar family originally came from al-Majdal Asqalan, a town near present-day Ashkelon. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the family was displaced from the town following its capture by Israeli forces and later settled in the Gaza Strip.[22]

On 29 October 1962, Yahya Sinwar was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, which was then under the control of the United Arab Republic.[23][24] His brother Mohammed Sinwar was born on 16 September 1975 in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, which was then under the control of the State of Israel.[17]

Early activities of the Sinwar brothers

Yahya Sinwar and Rawhi Mushtaha co-founded the Munazzamat al Jihad w'al-Dawa (Majd), which in 1987 became the Hamas "police".[25][26]

Mohammed Sinwar joined the Hamas in 1991.[17] His rank in the group rose over time, and he eventually became one of its joint chief of staffs, where he became close to Hamas commanders such as Mohammed Deif and Sa'ad al-Arabid but also to deputy Hamas commander Marwan Issa.[27][21][28]

Rise of the Sinwar brothers within Hamas

Yahya Sinwar was imprisoned in 1989, the second time he was arrested; the first time was in 1982. Hamas elects its leaders democratically within prison. Committees handle day-to-day decisions and punishments, while an elected "emir" and a high council oversee operations for limited terms. Yahya Sinwar alternated as emir with Rawhi Mushtaha, a confidant, during his imprisonment, serving as emir in 2004. Despite his leadership among prisoners, Sinwar was seen as a humble ascetic who shared cooking duties and other chores with junior inmates as well as making knafeh for fellow prisoners, in order to foster camaraderie.[29]

Mohammad Sinwar In 2005, he became the commander of Hamas's Khan Yunis Brigade[30]—a role he held until 2016, according to the IDF.[31] Mohamed Sinwar operated alongside senior commanders such as Hassan Salameh [ar; he], and accumulated experience and influence because he was able to stay under the radar.[21] In 2006, Sinwar oversaw the establishment of Hamas's "Shadow Unit" with approval from Deif. It was an elite, covert force that guarded valuable captives, including Shalit. Sinwar personally selected militants from Khan Yunis to command the unit, including field commanders Rahman al-Mubasher, Khaled Abu Bakra, and Mohammed Dawoud.[32][33]

Since the Gaza Strip came under the control of the Hamas

In 2011 Yahya Sinwar was exchanged in a prisoners exchange with Israel, afterwards he was appointed as Defense Minister of the Hamas government in Gaza, a quasi-state and rival government in the Gaza Strip which was established in June 2007 during the Battle of Gaza in 2007.[34] One month after his release he also married Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar.[35] In 2017 Yahya Sinwar was elected as Chairman of the Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip and replaced Ismail Haniyeh on 13 February 2017,[36] the Chairman of the Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip, was between 2007 and 2024 also the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, the de facto highest position in the Hamas government in Gaza.[39][40][41] On the same day Yahya Sinwar also became Prime Minister of the Hamas government in Gaza, a position which he held until 2019.[42][36] On 31 July 2024 Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated by Israel, Khaled Mashal became after the assassination from 31 July until 6 August 2024, the acting Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau. Khaled Mashal was replaced with Yahya Sinwar on 6 August 2024, after he was elected as the new Chairman, besides that he still hold the offices of Chairman of the Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip and of Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip.[43][44] Two months later on 16 October Yahya Sinwar was killed by the Israel Defense Forces.[45][46][47][48][49] The Hamas temporary committee which was established on 31 July 2024, took over the leadership of the Hamas until a new the Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau is elected.[50][51][52] Khalil al-Hayya became the acting Chairman of the Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip,[53][54][55][56] the office of Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip became vacant. Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar fled with her children to the Republic of Türkiye, where she remarried with a Hamas member.[57][58][59][60]

Mohammed Sinwar became the successor of Mohammed Deif who was assassinated on 13 July 2024, as Commanders of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades on the 4 November 2024.[61] On 13 January 2025, Mohammed Sinwar became the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, succeeding his brother Yahya Sinwar.[66] His rule over the Gaza Strip didn't lasted long, on 13 May 2025 after only 120 days, Mohammad Sinwar was killed along Muhammad Shabana, the Commander of the Rafah Brigade, a brigade of the Al-Qassam Brigades.[67][68][69][70]

Zakaria Sinwar, the brother of Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar was killed on 17 May 2025, about his early life there is limit information it is only known that he had a doctor title and that he had worked as a lecturer at the Islamic University in Gaza.[71]

Ideological influence

Members

See also

References

  1. ^ Shannon, Michael (April 26, 2024). "Sinwar and the Hamas leadership abroad".
  2. ^ Schanzer, Jonathan (November 13, 2023). "Israel's Hunt for the Sinwar Brothers".
  3. ^ "The Sinwar brothers". Israel National News. June 8, 2026.
  4. ^ [1][2][3]
  5. ^ https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-819111
  6. ^ https://manassa.news/en/news/27932
  7. ^ "IDF footage purportedly shows Yahya Sinwar's last moments before assassination | The Express Tribune".
  8. ^ Shaiovich, Niv (May 21, 2025). "Saudi Report: Hamas Notifies Mohammed Sinwar's Family of His Elimination" – via www.ynetnews.com.
  9. ^ "Israel releases footage said to show Sinwar and family in Gaza tunnels ahead of October 7th attack" – via apnews.com.
  10. ^ Ganot, Steven (October 20, 2024). "IDF Footage Shows Sinwar's Family Preparing for Underground Luxury Stay Hours Before War". The Media Line.
  11. ^ "Yahya Sinwar fled with family in Gaza tunnel one day before October 7 | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. October 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (October 19, 2024). "IDF releases clips of Sinwar, family fleeing into tunnel on Oct. 6, says Hamas chief was preoccupied with own survival" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
  13. ^ "Yahya Sinwar's wife seen carrying $32,000 handbag in tunnel escape footage: IDF". October 21, 2024 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  14. ^ Zitun, Yoav; Azulay, Moran (February 14, 2024). "Isolated, on constant run: the hunt after Sinwar continues" – via www.ynetnews.com.
  15. ^ [9][10][11][12][13][14]
  16. ^ "يحيى السنوار أسير محرر قاد حركة حماس واستشهد في مواجهة مع الاحتلال". الجزيرة نت.
  17. ^ a b c "من أبرز المطلوبين إسرائيليا ونجا من 6 محاولات اغتيال.. محمد السنوار أحد مهندسي "صفقة شاليط" بغزة". الجزيرة نت.
  18. ^ "Yahya Sinwar: Hamas leader and October 7 mastermind". en.majalla.com.
  19. ^ "Who was Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader killed by Israeli forces?". SBS News. October 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "PROFILE - Yahya Sinwar: From Israeli prisons to leading Hamas amid Gaza genocide". Anadolu.
  21. ^ a b c "From prison to power: Mohammed Sinwar's sole in Hamas's warfare | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. September 7, 2024.
  22. ^ [16][17][18][19][20][21]
  23. ^ "Israel air strikes kill 42 Palestinians, rockets fired from Gaza". Reuters. 15 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  24. ^ Dalloul, Motasem A. (13 February 2017). "The new leader of Hamas in Gaza is Yahya Al-Sinwar". Middle East Monitor. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Hamas elects hardliner Yahya Sinwar as its Gaza Strip chief". 2017-02-13. Archived from the original on 2017-02-13.
  26. ^ a b "نبذة عن حياة الأسير يحيى السنوار مؤسس الجهاز الأمني لحركة المقاومة الإسلامية حماس" [A brief overview of the life of prisoner Yahya Sinwar, founder of the security apparatus of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas] (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2016-06-24.
  27. ^ "Mohammed Sinwar, head of Hamas' armed wing, has been killed, Netanyahu says". AP News. May 28, 2025.
  28. ^ "Mohammad Sinwar: Hamas chief in Gaza declared eliminated by Israel". Reuters.
  29. ^ Becker, Jo; Sella, Adam (May 26, 2024). "The Hamas Chief and the Israeli Who Saved His Life" – via NYTimes.com.
  30. ^ "Israel PM says Hamas's Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar has been killed". www.bbc.com. May 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Liebermann, Oren (May 13, 2025). "Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza, sources say". CNN.
  32. ^ "Hamas further weakened after Israel kills presumed leader Mohammed Sinwar". June 1, 2025 – via Le Monde.
  33. ^ "Elusive Assassination Target, 'Shadow Unit' Founder: Who Is Mohammed al-Sinwar?". english.aawsat.com.
  34. ^ "The Hamas Chief and the Israeli Who Saved His Life". Archived from the original on 2024-05-27.
  35. ^ a b "Yahya Sinwar's wife seen escaping Gaza with Birkin Bag | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. October 21, 2024.
  36. ^ a b Beaumont, Peter (February 13, 2017). "Election of new Hamas Gaza Strip leader increases fears of confrontation" – via The Guardian.
  37. ^ "Gaza Strip: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report". Freedom House.
  38. ^ "Gaza Strip: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report". Freedom House.
  39. ^ [37][38]
  40. ^ "Hamas reelects Sinwar as Gaza chief". March 11, 2021.
  41. ^ "Hamas re-elects Sinwar as chief of political wing in Gaza". thearabweekly.com.
  42. ^ "Yahya Sinwar appointed as Hamas PM in Gaza". Middle East Eye. 17 February 2017.
  43. ^ "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new leader after Ismail Haniyeh's killing". Archived from the original on 2024-08-06.
  44. ^ "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new overall leader". BBC News. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  45. ^ "Sinwar's killing is a win for Israel — but many Palestinians are proud of his defiant last stand". NBC News. 18 Oct 2024. Retrieved 19 Oct 2024.
  46. ^ Magramo, Kathleen; Edwards, Christian; Powell, Tori B.; Tanno, Sophie; Sangal, Aditi (18 Oct 2024). "October 18, 2024 news on the wars in the Middle East". CNN. Retrieved 19 Oct 2024.
  47. ^ Baker, Graeme (17 October 2024). "How Israel killed enemy number one Yahya Sinwar". BBC News. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  48. ^ "Hamas confirms killing of leader Yahya Sinwar as Biden seeks 'path to peace' – live updates". BBC News. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  49. ^ Uras, Umut; Gadzo, Mersiha (18 October 2024). "Hamas confirms leader Sinwar killed in Gaza". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 18 October 2024. Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces, Khalil Hayya, head of Hamas in Gaza, has confirmed.
  50. ^ "Hamas to be temporarily led by five-member ruling committee". The Arab Weekly. 22 October 2024.
  51. ^ "Hamas will be temporarily led by a committee, according to sources within the movement". L'Orient Today. 22 October 2024.
  52. ^ "Who will lead Hamas after killing of Yahya Sinwar?". BBC News. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  53. ^ "A Delegation from Hamas Leadership, Heads by Khalil al-Hayya, Follows up in Cairo on Ceasefire Agreement Implementation in Gaza". www.sadanews.ps.
  54. ^ "#PalestineChronology: Press Summaries on the War on Gaza, November 1-30, 2024". Institute for Palestine Studies.
  55. ^ "Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya still alive, group claims". www.israelnationalnews.com.
  56. ^ Lehmann, Noam (28 December 2025). "Hamas said set to soon elect new leader, with pro-Iran candidate Hayya likely to win". The Times of Israel.
  57. ^ Staff, ToI (July 23, 2025). "Yahya Sinwar's widow fled Gaza using fake passport to Turkey and remarried — report" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
  58. ^ "Slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar's widow smuggled out of Gaza — and is already remarried: report | New York Post". July 24, 2025.
  59. ^ "Hamas Chief's Widow Fled Gaza With Fake Passport, Remarried In Turkey: Report".
  60. ^ "Yahya Sinwar's wife escaped to Turkey and remarried there | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. July 23, 2025.
  61. ^ "Report: Muhammad Sinwar acting as de facto head of Hamas military wing". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  62. ^ "Mohammed Sinwar becomes new Hamas leader in Gaza Strip". Report.az. January 13, 2025.
  63. ^ Said, Summer; Peled, Anat; Jones, Rory (13 January 2025). "Hamas Has Another Sinwar. And He's Rebuilding". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  64. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (May 31, 2025). "Following Netanyahu, IDF confirms Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar killed in May 13 strike" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
  65. ^ Reporter, J. C. (January 13, 2025). "Brother of ex-Hamas chief Sinwar 'rebuilding' terror group in Gaza". The Jewish Chronicle.
  66. ^ [62][63][64][65]
  67. ^ "Israel's latest attacks on Gaza hospitals killed at least 28 people". Al Jazeera. 13 May 2025.
  68. ^ "Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital kill 28". The New Arab. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  69. ^ Abualouf, Rushdi; Comerford, Ruth (13 May 2025). "Israeli air strike on hospital kills 28 people in Gaza, civil defence says". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  70. ^ Livni, Ephrat (2025-05-14). "What to Know About Muhammad Sinwar, the Hamas Leader Targeted by Israel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  71. ^ a b Yohanan, Nurit (May 18, 2025). "Palestinian reports: Brother of Yahya and Muhammad Sinwar killed in Gaza airstrike" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
  72. ^ Halabi, Einav (2024-10-17). "Mohammed Sinwar: The ruthless brother who 'came back from the dead' – Hamas' heir apparent?". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  73. ^ Livni, Ephrat (May 14, 2025). "Who Is Muhammad Sinwar, the Hamas Leader Targeted by Israel?" – via NYTimes.com.
  74. ^ Staff, ToI (October 19, 2024). "In letters to 10-year-old son, Sinwar sought to instill a hatred for Israel — report" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
  75. ^ "Sinwars Witwe: Flucht aus Gaza und Heirat in der Türkei". July 28, 2025.
  76. ^ "Mohammed Sinwar, defiant Hamas leader who took over the terror group after the death of brother Yahya". www.telegraph.co.uk. 2025-05-29.
  77. ^ Rahmati, Fidel (May 18, 2025). "Zakaria Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar, killed with family in Israeli airstrike on Gaza" – via www.khaama.com.
  78. ^ Nachmani, Avi (May 18, 2025). "Report: Deadly blow to Sinwar family as third brother eliminated in Gaza". JFeed.
  79. ^ Yohanan, Nurit (May 22, 2025). "Zakaria Sinwar — brother of Yahya and Muhammad — said to succumb to wounds from IDF strike" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
Retrieved from "https://deeppolitics.org/index.php?title=Sinwar_family&oldid=43724"