Yahya Sinwar Biography- Yahya Sinwar, born on 29 October 1962, is a Palestinian politician who has served as the head of the Hamas Political Bureau since August 2025 and as the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip since February 2017, taking over from Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza, which was under Egyptian rule in 1962. His family had either been expelled or fled from Ashkelon during the 1948 Palestine War. He completed his education at the Islamic University of Gaza, earning a bachelor’s degree in Arabic Studies.
Yahya Sinwar Biography 2025
One of Israel’s most wanted men, Yahya Sinwar is the head of Hamas’s political branch in Gaza and has remarkable snow-white hair and jet-black eyebrows. It holds him and other individuals accountable for the raid into southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 200 more. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), claimed in the beginning of October that Yahya Sinwar was the leader “and he is a dead man.” IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated, “Yahya Sinwar made the decision to carry out this horrible attack. He is therefore a dead man walking, as are all others who are beneath him. This includes the elusive commander of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Deif.
Yahya Sinwar Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar
29 October 1962 (age 61)
Khan Younis, Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip |
| Nationality |
Palestinian |
| Political party |
Hamas |
| Residence(s) |
Khan Younis, Khan Younis Governorate, Gaza Strip, State of Palestine |
| Education |
Islamic University of Gaza (BA) |
| Category |
Politician Biography |
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About Yahya Sinwar Biography
Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, better known as Yahya Sinwar, is a Palestinian politician who has been Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip since February 2017, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh.
Born: 29 October 1962 (age 61 years), Khan Yunis
Office: Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau since 2025
Education: Islamic University of Gaza
Full name: Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar
Nationality: Palestinian
Early life and education
When the Gaza Strip was ruled by Egypt, on October 7 or 29, 1962, Yahya Ibrahim Hassan al-Sinwar was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, where he spent his formative years. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, his family was forced to flee or be exiled from Al-Majdal Asqalan (Arabic: مدينة مجدل; romanized: Medīna Majal), which is now known as Ashkelon. They took sanctuary in the Gaza Strip. Speaking about his background as a refugee, Sinwar connected it to his engagement with Hamas in discussions with other inmates during his subsequent detention. Another prisoner, Esmat Mansour, claimed that Sinwar was severely impacted by the communal living arrangements and food distribution in the camp for refugees. Following his graduation from Khan Yunis Secondary School for Boys, he continued his education at the Islamic University.
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Early activities and imprisonment
After being detained for subversive activities in 1982, Sinwar spent many months in the Far’a jail where he became close to Salah Shehade and other Palestinian activists and committed himself to the cause of the Palestinian people. Re-arrested in 1985, he co-founded the Munazzamat al Jihad w’al-Dawa (Majd) alongside Rawhi Mushtaha after being freed. Majd was an organization that worked to find Palestinians who were Israel collaborators among other things, and it eventually evolved into the Hamas “police” in 1987. “The Butcher of Khan Yunis” was Sinwar’s moniker after he killed alleged Israeli collaborators. Sinwar organized the 1988 kidnapping and murder of two Israeli soldiers as well as the assassination of four Palestinians he believed to be collaborating with Israel. When he was being questioned after his arrest in February of that year.
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Who is Yahya Sinwar
Born in Khan Younis in 1962, Yahya Sinwar is regarded as one of Hamas’s most resolute senior executives.Due to his participation in anti-occupation action at the Islamic University of Gaza, Sinwar was detained by Israel on multiple occasions in the early 1980s. Following his graduation, Sinwar organized fighters with military resistance training to fight Israel. This squad later evolved into the well-known Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military arm. Soon after Shaikh Ahmad Yasin created the military group in 1987, Sinwar became one of its leaders. He was apprehended by Israel a year later, and after serving four life terms, he would have spent 426 years behind bars.
He was charged with the murders of four alleged Palestinian spies and two Israeli troops. During his 23 years in Israel’s prison system, Sinwar studied Hebrew and became knowledgeable about Israeli politics. He was freed in 2011 as a result of the prisoner swap agreement that saw the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas.
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Sinwar’s rise to power in Hamas
Sinwar noticed an abrupt boost in his standing within Hamas following his return to Gaza. He was tasked with coordinating with the Qassam Brigades after being elected to the group’s political bureau in 2012. 2014 saw Israel launch a seven-week battle against Hamas, in which Sinwar was a key military and political player. The next year, the US labeled him as a “specially designated global terrorist.” In a terrifying declaration made in December 2022, Sinwar threatened to unleash a “flood” of fighters and rockets on Israel. God willing, we will arrive at your place in a raging flood. We want to attack you with an unending barrage of rockets, an infinite stream of soldiers, and millions of our people, like a recurring flood,” he declared.
Who is Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh’s successor as Hamas chief?
Hamas picked Yahya Sinwar, Gaza’s leader, as head to replace Ismail Haniyeh. Haniyeh was killed in Tehran. Iran vows revenge on Israel. Israel hasn’t confirmed involvement. Sinwar led an attack against Israel on October 7. He leads from a secret location in Gaza. Israel views him as a top enemy. Hamas shows defiance by choosing him. Sinwar’s ability to lead while hiding is uncertain.
Yahya Sinwar, born in 1962 in Khan Younis, is seen as a tough top Hamas leader. In the 1980s, Israel arrested him multiple times for fighting against their occupation. After graduating, he helped form a group of fighters to resist Israel. This group later became known as the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military arm. Sinwar quickly joined Hamas when it started in 1987 under Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. The next year, Israel arrested him and sentenced him to four life terms for his role in capturing and killing Israelis. He spent 23 years in an Israeli prison, learning Hebrew and about Israeli politics. Sinwar was released in 2011 in a swap for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
After getting out of prison, Sinwar quickly advanced in Hamas. In 2012, he joined the political bureau and worked with the Qassam Brigades. He played a key role during Israel’s 2014 offensive in Gaza. Following this, the US labeled him a global terrorist. By 2017, he became the Hamas chief in Gaza, replacing Haniyeh. Unlike Haniyeh, who traveled and spoke publicly, Sinwar remained quiet. In a 2021 interview, Sinwar expressed Palestinians’ reluctance for war but determination not to surrender. He criticized international inaction during the Great March of Return protests in 2018-2019.
