TEHRAN – Following the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine (Hamas), in a terrorist operation by the Zionist regime in Tehran, speculation quickly arose about his successor.

Various top Hamas leaders were mentioned in the media, but eventually, Hamas announced that its Consultative Council had selected Yahya Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau, succeeding the late Haniyeh.

Yahya Sinwar, who leads Hamas's political bureau in the Gaza Strip and is a prominent figure in the Resistance, notably known for the October 7 events in Palestine, brings a multifaceted significance to his new role. One aspect to consider is the internal political and geographical dynamics within Hamas. The movement's structure is divided into three geographical sections: Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestinian refugees abroad, each with its own political bureau. These sections collectively form a unified organization under a single political bureau.

Mousa Abu Marzook, the first head of Hamas's political bureau, hailed from Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Khaled Mashal, the second head, was born in Silwad, Ramallah (West Bank). The late Ismail Haniyeh, the third head, originated from the Al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Now, with Yahya Sinwar from Khan Younis in Gaza taking over, the leadership has once again returned to a figure from the Gaza Strip, the current focal point of the Palestinian struggle.

This choice carries substantial weight concerning Hamas's political stance and strategies against Israel. The unanimous selection of Yahya Sinwar by all members of the Consultative Council, Hamas's highest organizational body, sends a clear and unified message to Israel: if the martyr Ismail Haniyeh, based in Doha and leading political efforts and ceasefire negotiations, was intolerable, then prepare for Commander Yahya Sinwar, the hero of October 7.

The decision is strategic, timely, and loaded with clear implications. Given the wartime conditions in Gaza and the limitations on Commander Yahya Sinwar's ability to make overt appearances, it is anticipated that another individual, likely from the West Bank or abroad, will be appointed or has already been appointed as deputy head of Hamas's political bureau to represent the movement globally.

This swift decision following the martyrdom of a leader like Ismail Haniyeh underscores an essential reality: Hamas, as a national liberation movement, is not dependent on any single individual. The spirit of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas, and the Palestinian Resistance lives on as long as the Palestinian nation endures.

Hossein Jaberi Ansari is the former deputy foreign minister of Iran for Arab and African Affairs.