Who will lead Hamas after Sinwar?
The assassination confronts militant group with crucial strategic choice at its weakest point in two decades

The choice will inevitably be a statement on the group’s wartime goals, with repercussions for how it approaches ceasefire and hostage negotiations. “Hamas now has to decide if it wants to keep with this kind of strong ideological figure who was regarded as more hardline like Sinwar, or?.?.?.?shift back to a more moderate [or] pragmatic [one] like Haniyeh

Within Gaza, Hamas’s new leader might come from Yahya Sinwar’s own family. His younger brother Mohammad has risen up Hamas’ ranks to become a top commander in its Qassam Brigades in Gaza, analysts said, and is a likely candidate to take the reins on the political side. 

“The Hamas military wing in Gaza is the main Hamas body that requires leadership in Gaza right now,” said Ibrahim Dalalsha, director of the Ramallah-based Horizon Center for Political Studies. The younger Sinwar “could be de facto number one, but aided by other senior commanders”. 

The other top Hamas commander in Gaza is Izz al-Din al-Haddad, according to Guy Aviad, a former history department official in the Israeli military who has written about Hamas. 

Haddad, known as Abu Suhaib, was commander of Hamas brigade in Gaza City and has taken charge of all Hamas’ operation in the north of the strip, said Aviad. Mohammad Sinwar, he added, was controlling operations in Gaza’s south.