Media: Hamas mulls collective leadership after Sinwar's death

Following the demise of Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, Yahya Sinwar increasingly contemplated his own mortality and began preparations for his imminent death. 

Sinwar has left several instructions for the leadership of Hamas, Caliber.Az reports referring to Israeli media.

Sinwar conveyed to his close associates in Hamas that following his potential removal, Israel might be inclined to make significant concessions in order to secure the return of hostages and bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

“An opportunity will arise to conclude a deal swiftly,” Sinwar stated. “However, we must resist the temptation to do so, as Hamas will then find itself in an even stronger position during negotiations regarding the fate of the hostages, and this can be leveraged.”

In addition, Sinwar bequeathed that, after his passing, Hamas should not focus on the selection of his successor but should instead aim for a model of “collective leadership” within the organisation.

Reports indicate that Hamas is indeed considering the implementation of collective governance, a decision also recently adopted by Hezbollah.

Following the departure of “number two” figure Naim Qassem to Iran, the management of Hezbollah remains unclear, although it is believed that a council will be elected to make decisions collectively, even if a new leader is formally appointed.

The proposed council to oversee Hamas is expected to include Abu Omar Hassan, the chairman of the Shura Council; Khaled Mashal, Hamas leader abroad; Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip; Zaher Jabareen, Hamas leader in the Arab towns of Judea and Samaria; and Nizar Awadallah, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Notably, on October 17, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, 62, had been killed in fighting with a group of Israeli trainee soldiers who came upon him by chance in battle in Tal as-Sultan, Rafah.

He led Hamas in Gaza since the deaths of the group’s political leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran and senior commander Mohammed Deif in Gaza in July this year.

He spent 22 years in Israeli prison before being released in 2011 during a prisoner exchange.

By Aghakazim Guliyev