History of Yahya Sinwar in Timeline
"Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar was a prominent Palestinian figure who held significant leadership positions within Hamas. He served as the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau from August 2024 and as the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip from February 2017 until his death. Sinwar succeeded Ismail Haniyeh in both of these roles, highlighting his influence and authority within the organization."
1948: Sinwar's Family Displaced During Arab-Israeli War
Yahya Sinwar's family was expelled or fled from Al-Majdal Asqalan (now Ashkelon) during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and sought refuge in the Gaza Strip.
1948: Sinwar's Family Leaves Ashkelon
Yahya Sinwar's family was expelled or fled from Ashkelon during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
October 1962: Yahya Sinwar Born in Khan Yunis
Yahya Ibrahim Hassan al-Sinwar was born on October 29, 1962, in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, under Egyptian rule.
October 1962: Yahya Sinwar Born
Yahya Sinwar was born in October 1962 in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Egyptian-ruled Gaza.
1962: Sinwar's Family Seeks Refuge in Gaza
In 1962, Yahya Sinwar's family, originally from Ashkelon, sought refuge in the Gaza Strip after being expelled or fleeing during the 1948 Palestine War.
1967: The Thorn and the Carnation
Yahya Sinwar's novel, "The Thorn and the Carnation," written in 2004, centers around a young Gazan boy named Ahmed and his experiences navigating life under Israeli occupation during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
1982: Sinwar's First Arrest and Imprisonment
Yahya Sinwar was arrested for the first time in 1982 for subversive activities and spent several months in Far'a prison.
1985: Sinwar's Second Arrest and Involvement in Majd
After his release from prison, Yahya Sinwar was arrested again in 1985. Upon his release, he co-founded the Munazzamat al Jihad w'al-Dawa (Majd) with Rawhi Mushtaha.
1987: Majd Becomes Hamas "Police"
In 1987, Majd, the organization co-founded by Yahya Sinwar, became the Hamas "police", responsible for identifying and targeting Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel.
1988: Sinwar Orchestrates Abductions and Killings
Yahya Sinwar planned and carried out the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and the murder of four Palestinians he suspected of collaborating with Israel in 1988.
1989: Sinwar Sentenced for Multiple Murders
In 1989, Yahya Sinwar received four life sentences after confessing to his role in the murders of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians.
1989: Sinwar Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
In 1989, Yahya Sinwar was sentenced to four life sentences by Israel for the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians suspected of collaboration.
1995: Sinwar Studies Israeli History and Politics in Prison
Starting in 1995, Yahya Sinwar enrolled in fifteen courses through the Open University of Israel while in prison, focusing on Israeli history, politics, and counterterrorism tactics.
2004: The Thorn and the Carnation
In 2004, while imprisoned, Yahya Sinwar completed a handwritten novel titled "The Thorn and the Carnation." Mirroring his life and the Palestinian resistance, the book tells the story of Ahmed, a young boy from Gaza, and his experiences under Israeli occupation during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
2004: Sinwar Receives Treatment for Brain Tumor
In 2004, Yahya Sinwar underwent surgery at Soroka Medical Center in Israel to remove a life-threatening brain tumor.
2004: Sinwar Serves as Hamas "Emir" in Prison
During his imprisonment, Yahya Sinwar served as the elected "emir" of Hamas prisoners in 2004, demonstrating his leadership qualities and commitment to the organization.
2004: Sinwar Undergoes Life-Saving Surgery by Israeli Dentist
In 2004, an Israeli prison dentist, Yuval Bitton, discovered that Yahya Sinwar had a life-threatening brain tumor and facilitated his urgent transfer to Soroka Medical Center for surgery.
2005: Interview and Hamas Election Victory
In 2005, Yahya Sinwar, in an interview with Israeli television, warned Israelis to be "scared" of Hamas's election victory while also conveying privately that the outcome largely depended on the Israeli government's actions. He stressed Hamas's demand for rights from Israeli leadership.
November 2011: Marriage to Samar Abu Zamar
Sinwar married Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar on November 21, 2011. Abu Zamar, 18 years younger than Sinwar, holds a master's degree in theology from the Islamic University of Gaza.
2011: Gilad Shalit Prisoner Exchange
In 2011, Yahya Sinwar was a key figure in the prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. As part of the negotiation team, he opposed deals excluding high-profile prisoners serving multiple life sentences, causing a rift in Hamas leadership. Sinwar was the most senior Palestinian prisoner released among 1,026 others.
2011: Sinwar Released in Prisoner Exchange
Yahya Sinwar was released from Israeli prison in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after serving 22 years of his sentence.
November 2012: Meeting with Qasem Soleimani
In November 2012, during the 2012 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar met with Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Tehran, strengthening ties between Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
August 2014: Bombing of Widad and Ali Deif's Home
In August 2014, the home of Widad and Ali Deif was bombed by Israel, resulting in their deaths. Hamas later accused Mahmoud Ishtiwi of providing information to Israel that led to the bombing. Ishtiwi was executed in February 2016.
September 2015: US Designates Sinwar as Terrorist
Yahya Sinwar was specifically designated as a terrorist by the United States government in September 2015.
February 2016: Execution of Mahmoud Ishtiwi
Yahya Sinwar is believed to have overseen the February 2016 torture and execution of Mahmoud Ishtiwi, the Qassam Brigades' Zeitoun Battalion commander. Ishtiwi was accused of embezzlement, homosexuality, and providing Israel information leading to the deaths of Widad and Ali Deif in an August 2014 bombing.
February 2017: Elected Hamas Leader in Gaza
Yahya Sinwar was secretly elected as the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip in February 2017, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh.
February 2017: Sinwar Succeeds Ismail Haniyeh as Hamas Leader in Gaza
In February 2017, Yahya Sinwar became the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh.
September 2017: Dissolution of Hamas Administrative Committee
In September 2017, during a new round of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority in Egypt, Yahya Sinwar agreed to dissolve the Hamas administrative committee for Gaza.
2017: Strengthening Ties with Iran and Hezbollah
After his election as Hamas leader in Gaza in 2017, Yahya Sinwar fostered closer cooperation with Iran and Hezbollah following his meeting with Qasem Soleimani in 2012.
2017: Sinwar Elected Hamas Leader in Gaza
Yahya Sinwar was elected as the leader of Hamas in Gaza in 2017.
May 2018: Shift Towards "Peaceful Resistance"
In May 2018, Yahya Sinwar announced on Al Jazeera that Hamas would pursue "peaceful, popular resistance" against the Israeli occupation, suggesting a potential shift in the organization's approach and a possible role in negotiations.
2018: Sinwar Supports Gaza Border Protests
Yahya Sinwar supported the 2018 Gaza border protests, despite claiming to pursue 'peaceful, popular resistance'.
2019: Gaza Border Protests Continue
The Gaza border protests, supported by Yahya Sinwar, continued into 2019.
December 2020: COVID-19 Diagnosis
In December 2020, Yahya Sinwar tested positive for COVID-19. A spokesman for Hamas stated he was in good health and continuing his duties while following health authority guidelines.
March 2021: Re-elected as Hamas Leader in Gaza
Yahya Sinwar was re-elected for a second four-year term as the head of Hamas in Gaza in March 2021.
May 2021: Israeli Airstrike and Public Appearances
In May 2021, amidst heightened tensions, an Israeli airstrike targeted Yahya Sinwar's home in Khan Yunis, Gaza. While details of casualties were unclear, he appeared publicly multiple times in the following week, including a press conference on May 27, where he challenged the Israeli Defense Minister to assassinate him.
2021: Sinwar Re-elected, Survives Assassination Attempt
In 2021, Yahya Sinwar was re-elected as the leader of Hamas and survived an assassination attempt by Israel.
September 2022: Planning the 2023 Attack
In the autumn of 2022, Hamas, under Yahya Sinwar's leadership, began planning a surprise attack on Israel, aiming for its 'collapse'. Sinwar sought to involve Iran and Hezbollah in the attack or a larger conflict. He reviewed the plans in September, but the attack was postponed.
May 2023: Postponing the Attack
By May 2023, Yahya Sinwar and his colleagues were relieved to have avoided a confrontation with Israel during Ramadan, aiming to maintain the element of surprise for their planned attack in October.
October 2023: Mastermind Behind the October 7 Attack
Yahya Sinwar, alongside Mohammed Deif, is considered the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the deadliest in the nation's history. The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 240 hostages taken to Gaza. Following the attack, Sinwar became a primary target for assassination by the Israeli military.
2023: Sinwar Masterminds Attack on Israel
Yahya Sinwar is believed to be the mastermind behind the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which the group had been planning for two years.
February 2024: IDF Releases Footage and Searches for Sinwar
By February 2024, the IDF believed Yahya Sinwar had relocated to Rafah from Khan Yunis. On February 13, they released CCTV footage from October 10, 2023, showing Sinwar, his family, and brother Ibrahim in a Khan Yunis tunnel complex, indicating ongoing efforts to locate him.
February 2024: US Criminal Charges Filed
In February 2024, the US Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Sinwar under seal for his role in the October 7 attack on Israel.
May 2024: ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrant for Sinwar
Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), announced his intention to seek an arrest warrant for Yahya Sinwar in May 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
May 2024: ICC Arrest Warrant Request
On May 20, 2024, Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, announced his intent to seek an arrest warrant for Yahya Sinwar for war crimes and crimes against humanity as part of the ongoing ICC investigation in Palestine.
June 2024: Leaked Communications Controversy
In June 2024, The Wall Street Journal published leaked communications allegedly between Sinwar and Hamas leadership. The unverified messages suggested Sinwar considered Palestinian civilian deaths as "necessary sacrifices." Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad denied the report, stating Sinwar aimed to end the conflict swiftly and calling the statements "completely incorrect."
July 2024: Named Hamas Leader
Following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh on July 31, 2024, Hamas elected Yahya Sinwar as the new leader. The Shura Council, Hamas's politburo, unanimously chose Sinwar as the new chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, calling it a "message of defiance to Israel."
August 2024: Sinwar Becomes Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau
Yahya Sinwar became the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau in August 2024.
September 2024: US Criminal Charges Announced
On September 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against Sinwar for his alleged role in the October 7 attack on Israel. The charges, filed under seal in February 2024, include conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals.
October 2024: Possible Death in Gaza Operation
On October 17, 2024, Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet investigated whether Sinwar was one of three individuals killed in a Gaza operation the previous day. While neither side confirmed, soldiers found a body resembling Sinwar and took a DNA sample. Reports mentioned cash, weapons, and fake IDs were found with the bodies.
October 2024: Death of Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, died in October 2024.