But why are you looking? Israel About Muhammad Al-Sanwar? Who is this man whom Israeli media describes as “more brutal” than Yahya?
According to the Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post, in an article it published entitled “Who is… Muhammad Al-Sanwar? Hamas’s secret leader in the fight against Israel, Mohammed possesses a cunning and brutality that cemented his role in the movement’s military leadership agitation.
The newspaper described Mohammed as the “mysterious master terrorist.”
According to reports, Muhammad Al-Sanwar served as commander Khan Yunis Brigade In the Al-Qassam Brigades, indicating that he was one of the kidnappers of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Reports also indicated that Muhammad Al-Sinwar is one of the engineers of the Gaza tunnels and that he carried out the largest construction projects Tunnel network underground.
In addition, Muhammad Al-Sanwar is one of the potential candidates for succession Yahya Al-Sanwar In the leadership of Hamas, which put him and other leaders of Hamas on the Israeli target list, and he is wanted by Israel as it placed a reward worth 300 thousand shekels to capture him dead or alive, and this amount is the second largest financial reward, after the one that was placed on Yahya’s head (400 One thousand shekels).
Who is Muhammad Al-Sanwar?
- Muhammad Al-Sanwar was born in 1975 in Khan Yunis camp For refugees, his brother Yahya was already 13 years old.
- The Sinwar family fled a village near Ashkelon In 1948, it settled in southern Gaza.
- The Sinwar brothers were deeply involved in anti-Israel activities, culminating in the October 7, 2023 attack.
- According to the newspaper, Muhammad personally participated in the execution of suspected collaborators with Israel.
- In 1991, he was arrested Israeli army He was imprisoned in Katziot prison, but was released after 9 months.
- Muhammad became close to field commanders who later became key figures, such as Muhammad Deif, Saad Al-Arbeed, and others.
- I was arrested Palestinian security forces Muhammad was repeatedly under Israeli pressure, and eventually spent a total of 3 years in custody.
- His profile increased further in April 2003 when an Israeli helicopter targeted and killed Saad al-Arbeed, a close associate of Mohammed.
Pointless targeting and chasing
Over the years, Muhammad has worked alongside senior Hamas leaders and maintained relationships with key figures in the movement, and his ability to operate under the radar has allowed him to accumulate influence and operational experience, making him a key player in Hamas’ military strategy. Despite Israeli efforts, the pursuit of him remained unsuccessful.
A former security official familiar with the matter revealed Gaza Intelligence During those years, despite the lack of media coverage, more targeted operations were carried out against Muhammad al-Sinwar than any other prominent Hamas figure today.
According to the security official, “Muhammad Al-Sanwar not only participated during the organization’s military development, but… Al-Qassam Brigades “To the full military wing, he even played an active and even leadership role in some parts of the operation.”
He added, “It is not a coincidence that his house was destroyed several times over the past two decades. The operations to eliminate it were massive but unsuccessful.”
Leader in the Shalit kidnapping
In 2006, Muhammad once again demonstrated his loyalty, first and foremost, to his brother Yahya, then imprisoned in Israel, and to other security prisoners by leading the kidnapping of soldier Gilad Shalit and subsequently holding him until his brother’s release in 2011.
Senior Hamas leaders and Israeli security officials were aware that Yahya would be released in the Shalit deal largely because of Mohammed’s involvement in the operation.
The former official continued: “The issue was not Yahya’s presence on the list of those released, but two points must be considered: First, how to approve the deal without releasing Hassan Salama.
Who was considered a higher rank than Yahya in terrorist activity; Secondly, Muhammad refused to sign a document with the Shin Bet and the Israeli army committing himself not to return to terrorist activities.”
He added, “By the way, the kidnapping of Shalit was not the only operation that Muhammad carried out on behalf of his brother. In 1992, he participated in a mission led by Muhammad Deif to kidnap and kill soldier Alon Karvani.”
Attorney Eyal Burda, head of the intelligence department, said Israeli prisons As of 2017, the Walla website told this week that it was known that Muhammad al-Sinwar was behind Shalit’s kidnapping and was holding him captive, although other factions were involved.
Muhammad is the cruelest
After Sinwar’s release, he began to accumulate power and prestige, partly due to his brother Muhammad, who introduced him to key figures and operations on the ground. Over time, and with the elimination of senior members of Hamas’s military wing, Muhammad’s value grew.
According to the Jerusalem Post, in the summer of 2014, during Operation “Protective Edge“, Two of his closest aides, Raed Al-Attar and Mahmoud Abu Shamala, who were considered candidates to succeed Muhammad Deif, were assassinated. On the same day, rumors spread about Deif’s death. The elimination of these figures strengthened Muhammad’s position.
Recently, he visited Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant The Southern Command received a briefing on the situation in Gaza after the assassination of the head of Hamas’ military wing, Muhammad Deif, which Hamas denies.
Shortly after, a photo circulated showing Gallant alongside the commander of Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, with a computer screen in the background showing a picture of the Sinwar brothers, Yahya and Muhammad.
A former security official said, “Many do not understand who Muhammad Sinwar really is. He is a major terrorist who personally killed two Palestinians during interrogation, with the aim of finding out how the Israeli army and the Internal Security Service work. He did not hesitate to torture and kill his own people.”
“The series of horrific acts he committed helped him understand the Israeli side to the point where he tried to turn agents against Israel,” the official added. “He can even identify planes by the sounds they make. No one in Hamas understands the patterns.” Israeli secret operations Better than him. “He conducted all the interrogations himself, and learned everything from beginning to end.”
According to military sources, Muhammad al-Sinwar is considered more cruel than his brother Yahya.
The sources said: “Muhammad grew up under figures such as Deif, Ayyash, Shehadeh, and Al-Arabid. He witnessed the development of Hamas and gained tremendous experience on the Palestinian and Israeli sides… You will not find a major event in Hamas’ military construction over the past twenty-five years in which Muhammad Al-Sinwar did not participate.”
The sources continued, “He served as the commander of Khan Yunis, a very high-ranking role, and even the commanders who followed him worked under his influence. It is important to understand that he was an actor.” Muhammad Dhaif On the ground, speaking with fighters, brigade commanders and battalion commanders when Deif was unable or unwilling to attend, which only amplified his power.”
“On the other hand, he was fiercely loyal to Deif, never undermined him, and everyone knew that any decision he made had Deif’s support, a benefit that Mohamed enjoyed very much,” she said.
Among his skills is not only understanding Israeli intelligence And the tactics of the Israeli army, which was evident in the events of October 7, but reconciling the interests of the different factions.
One example is how he recruited the Darmush clan, responsible for smuggling weapons and drugs from Sinai to Gaza, to carry out the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.
The natural successor to Yahya
Mohammed Sinwar’s understanding of combat doctrine, training, and command of focused operational activity puts him in the position of a natural successor to Deif, which is why Israeli assessments indicate that he is involved not only in the current war effort but also in negotiations with Israel over Release detainees I have movement.
A former security official said: “I would not be surprised if Muhammad al-Sinwar plays an important role in the negotiations with Israel, including determining which prisoners will be released… He understands better than his brother how counterproductive concessions on the ground might be for Hamas.”
The security official added, “Some believe that Muhammad is more cunning and cruel than Yahya, and prefers to pull the strings behind the scenes while his brother benefits from the status he gained during decades in Israeli prisons.”
He continued, “There is another crucial point, which is that many believe that Muhammad is responsible for Yahya’s permanent security, a task that requires enormous energy and responsibility. But the reality is that Gaza It teaches us that everyone can be replaced, and that the caliph is no less cruel or dangerous than his predecessor.”
