Hamas Names Yahya Sinwar, Mastermind of the Oct. 7 Attacks, as its New Leader

BEIRUT – Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, its top official in Gaza who masterminded the Oct. 7 attacks in Zionist entity, as its new leader in a dramatic sign of the power of the Palestinian militant group’s hardline wing after his predecessor was killed in a presumed Zionist strike in Iran.

The announcement comes at volatile moment. Fears are high of an escalation into a wider regional war, with Iran vowing revenge against Zionist entity over Haniyeh’s killing and Lebanon’s Hezbollah threatening to retaliate over Zionist entity’s killing of one of its top commanders in an airstrike in Beirut last week. American, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are trying to salvage negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza, shaken by Haniyeh’ killing.