The killing of Hamas’s top military commander, Mohammad Sinwar, in an Israeli strike has marked the end of an era and created a vacuum for the elite leadership group in Gaza that orchestrated the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Sinwar’s demise follows the confirmed killings of other central figures who sat on the War Council, including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Marwan Issa.
This council, operating under extreme security and secrecy, was the clandestine core that decided on and directed the unprecedented assault on Israel.
The War Council’s members included Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, who masterminded the October 7 attack; Yahya Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas in Gaza; Mohammad Sinwar, a senior military figure and Deif’s trusted lieutenant; and Marwan Issa, Deif’s deputy.
A fifth figure, in charge of organizing Hamas’s security apparatus, remains unknown to the public due to severe injuries sustained during the war.
The October 7 attack marked a seismic shift in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the scale and brutality stunning observers worldwide. The attack triggered a devastating 20-month war in Gaza, and its aftermath has raised profound questions about the motivations behind the War Council’s actions.
With most core decision-makers dead, uncovering the deeper motivations and strategic calculus behind the attack may no longer be possible.
The dismantling of the War Council leaves Hamas facing a potential leadership vacuum at a critical time. Khalil al-Hayya, Sinwar’s deputy and a senior official based in Qatar, is reportedly a frontrunner to take over. Al-Hayya’s experience in ceasefire negotiations with Israel positions him uniquely amid the ongoing conflict. His leadership could significantly influence Hamas’s tactical decisions, especially concerning ceasefire discussions and internal cohesion.
The absence of a centralized strategic command may lead to fragmentation within Hamas or the rise of new, perhaps more radical factions. Alternatively, it may open a pathway for recalibration by other Palestinian actors seeking to fill the void left behind.
The fall of Hamas’s War Council marks the end of a shadowy but powerful inner circle that shaped one of the most consequential decisions in the movement’s history. Whether their legacy will be seen as bold resistance or catastrophic miscalculation remains to be determined.