Hamas leader Sinwar calls for group to revive suicide bombing campaign

[Ryan Robertson]

HAMAS LEADER YAHYA SINWAR IS PUSHING FOR THE REVIVAL OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS, A TACTIC THE GROUP LARGELY ABANDONED ALMOST TWO DECADES AGO. ACCORDING TO ARAB INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SINWAR REPORTEDLY ISSUED THIS DIRECTIVE TO A SENIOR OPERATIVE, SHIFTING TOWARD MORE EXTREME METHODS IN THE ONGOING CONFLICT WITH ISRAEL. 

SUICIDE BOMBINGS WERE A HALLMARK OF HAMAS’S EARLIER STRATEGIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SECOND INTIFADA IN THE EARLY 2000S–WHEN THE GROUP WOULD TARGET CROWDED SHOPPING AREAS, NIGHT CLUBS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES.THE GROUP MOVED AWAY FROM THE PRACTICE IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED BECAUSE HAMAS LEADERS, AT THE TIME, FEARED CONTINUED USE OF SUICIDE ATTACKS WOULD POLITICALLY ISOLATE THE ORGANIZATION AND DAMAGE ITS STANDING WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. DESPITE THESE CONCERNS, SINWAR’S RECENT STATEMENTS SUGGEST A RETURN TO MORE EXTREME METHODS.

THIS SHIFT HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT ACTIVITY, INCLUDING TWO RECENT SHOOTING ATTACKS CLAIMED BY HAMAS—ONE IN TEL AVIV THAT LEFT SEVEN DEAD, AND ANOTHER IN BEERSHEBA WHERE AN ISRAELI SOLDIER WAS KILLED.

SINWAR’S RISE TO POWER FOLLOWS YEARS OF INTERNAL CONFLICT WITHIN HAMAS. HE TOOK FULL CONTROL OF THE ORGANIZATION AFTER THE DEATH OF ISMAIL HANIYEH, THE PREVIOUS LEADER, IN July 2024.

HANIYEH, WAS KILLED IN A BOMB ATTACK IN IRAN, AND WAS,  WORKING TO POSITION HAMAS AS BOTH A MILITANT FORCE AND A POLITICAL ENTITY CAPABLE OF ENGAGING WITH ARAB STATES. 

SINWAR, BY CONTRAST, PRIORITIZED MILITARY OPERATIONS OVER POLITICAL DIPLOMACY, FOCUSING ON ARMED RESISTANCE AS THE PRIMARY MEANS OF ACHIEVING THE GROUP’S OBJECTIVES.

MEANWHILE — ARAB OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN MEDIATING THE CONFLICT ARE EXPRESSING  FEARS SINWAR’S EXTREME TACTICS WILL DERAIL ANY EFFORTS AT A CEASEFIRE, PROLONGING THE VIOLENCE AND LEADING TO FURTHER DESTABILIZATION IN THE REGION. 

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