New Hamas chief | Why Yahya Sinwar’s elevation means Gaza war will go on

Yahya Sinwar, the militant commander believed to be the chief architect of the unprecedented aerial and ground attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, will now head the Hamas' political bureau. The move further consolidates power under hardliners in the Palestinian militant group.

By essentially putting Sinwar in charge of negotiations over Gaza, Hamas sends a message to Israel and its allies that it's not willing to back down.

Sinwar tops Israel’s most-wanted list, and is named on the US blacklist of "international terrorists". Israel claims the elevation of the "arch-terrorist" is yet another reason to "swiftly eliminate" him and wipe out Hamas "from the face of the earth."

Any potential for a ceasefire deal in Gaza has slipped further away, leaving thousands of civilians in the line of fire.