Hamas Makes Sinwar Political Chief, Dashing Cease-Fire Hopes
- Israel’s top target, he was mastermind behind Oct. 7 attack
- Blinken says Sinwar is ‘primary decider’ on cease-fire anyway
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Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, a key mastermind of the group’s Oct. 7 assault, as its new political leader, the latest blow to multilateral efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza.
Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, one of the group’s main mediators, whose assassination in Iran last week had already put strain on talks — which have dragged for months — aimed at bringing the 10-month old war to an end. Iran’s said it is preparing to attack Israel as punishment for Haniyeh’s killing, which Israeli officials haven’t confirmed or denied having a role in.