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.
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.
