Gaza, Oct 19 (V7N) — The death of Yahya Sinwar, a key leader of Hamas, is being viewed as Israel’s most significant achievement in the ongoing conflict with the group in Gaza. Sinwar was instrumental in transforming Hamas into a formidable military force, making his loss a severe setback for the organisation.

Following Sinwar's death, reports have emerged suggesting that Khaled Meshaal, a prominent member of Hamas’ political bureau, has assumed the role of acting leader. However, Hamas has not yet made an official announcement regarding this leadership shift, only confirming the death of Sinwar.

Middle Eastern sources indicate that Meshaal, as acting leader, will now spearhead negotiations concerning the release of Israeli hostages and oversee reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Khaled Meshaal previously served as the political head of Hamas from 1996 to 2017, before being succeeded by Ismail Haniyeh.

Meshaal’s name has often been associated with Hamas leadership. However, a strategic decision saw Sinwar, regarded as one of Israel’s fiercest enemies, take charge after Haniyeh's assassination. Sinwar was also credited with orchestrating the large-scale Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

Born in Ramallah in 1956, Meshaal has been involved with Hamas since its foundation and joined the broader resistance movement at 15. His tenure as Hamas' political head was marked by numerous assassination attempts by Israeli operatives, including a failed poisoning attempt in Jordan in 1997.

Despite the efforts of Israeli agents, Meshaal survived after receiving an antidote from Jordanian authorities, which strained diplomatic relations between Jordan and Israel. The resilience he showed earned him the title of "living martyr" among his supporters.

With his return to leadership, Khaled Meshaal faces significant challenges as the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalates.

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