Slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s (pictured) younger brother, Mohammed Sinwar, has become the organization’s new leader in the Gaza Strip, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing Arab mediators involved in ceasefire negotiations. According to the report, Hamas officials declined to elect a new leader after Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar in October, and rather opted for establishing a collective leadership council. However, Hamas militants in Gaza did not accept this decision and united under the leadership of the younger Sinwar, who is currently striving to strengthen the militant group. Mohammad Sinwar became Hamas’ Khan Younis brigade commander in 2005 and he was the mastermind of the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006, who later was exchanged for Mohammad’s brother Yahya, who was imprisoned in Israel. The younger Sinwar was believed to have been killed in 2014 until the Israeli military published a video in November 2023, showing Mohammad traveling in a car through a tunnel near the Erez crossing, at the northern border between Gaza and Israel.
Israeli FM confirms progress in ceasefire talks
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday that progress in negotiations on a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages had been made, confirming previous reports. “Israel wants a hostage deal. Israel is working with our American friends in order to achieve a hostage deal, and soon we will know whether the other side wants the same thing,” Saar stated at a press conference. The minister added that Israeli officials are cooperating with both outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration and incoming President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to reach a final agreement with Hamas. “I hope that within a short time we will see things happening, but it is still to be proved,” he said. NN: Their is no dealing with the devil