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Hamas leader Sinwar calls for group to revive suicide bombing campaign

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Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is calling for the revival of suicide bombings, a tactic the group largely abandoned nearly 20 years ago. According to Arab intelligence officials, Sinwar issued this directive to a senior operative, marking a shift toward more extreme methods amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

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Sinwar’s call comes at a time when tensions are already high, following the deadly attacks launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, which resulted in over 1,200 civilian deaths and the abduction of hundreds.

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Suicide bombings were a central strategy for Hamas during the second intifada in the early 2000s. The tactic was later discontinued as the group feared political isolation and damage to its international standing. Despite these concerns, Sinwar’s recent statements indicate a push toward more radical approaches.

This shift has coincided with an increase in violent actions, including two recent Hamas-claimed shootings. One occurred in Tel Aviv, which killed seven people, and another in Beersheba saw an Israeli soldier killed.

Sinwar’s rise to power follows years of internal strife within Hamas. He assumed full control of the group after the death of former leader Ismail Haniyeh in a bomb attack in Iran in July 2024. Haniyeh had worked to balance Hamas’s role as both a militant force and a political entity capable of engaging with Arab states. In contrast, Sinwar has prioritized military action over political diplomacy, focusing on armed resistance as the key to achieving Hamas’s goals.

Arab officials mediating the conflict have voiced concerns that Sinwar’s extreme tactics could undermine efforts for a ceasefire, prolong the violence, and contribute to further instability in the region.

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[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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