Yahya Sinwar

Israel has vowed to eliminate new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, with regional hostilities threatening to boil over as the Gaza war enters its 11th month.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called for the "rapid elimination" of Yahya Sinwar, the new leader of Hamas. Sinwar took over the role a week after the death of the previous Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran. Katz's remarks reflect concerns that Sinwar, known for his radical stance, will further intensify the group's aggressive policies.

Hamas on Tuesday named Yahya Sinwar, the man Israel says masterminded the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Gaza war, as its new political chief following last week's killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh.

The announcement came with the Middle East on edge as it awaited Iran's retaliation over the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran.

While Hamas and Hezbollah regroup and issue threats of a sweeping counterattack, Israel continues to strike military targets in Lebanon.

Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has assumed the leadership of the Palestinian group. This announcement by Hamas comes a week after their previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran, as reported by Reuters.

Al Jazeera journalist Ismail Al Ghoul was killed in an airstrike in Gaza, with the Israel Defense Forces suspecting him of being a Hamas agent and participating in the October 7 attack on Israel, Reuters reported.

A chain reaction has been sparked by the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, with authorities in several countries on alert for a possible strike on Israeli targets in retaliation.

The Israeli military has confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the military leader of Hamas, following an airstrike in Gaza. The attack occurred on July 13 in a compound located in the Khan Younis area. In addition to Deif, another high-ranking commander of the radical Palestinian group was also killed in the strike.

A potential escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East, with Iran’s direct involvement, has raised global alarm. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced plans for retaliation after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, according to three informed Iranian officials reported by the New York Times.

The temperature is soaring. The already incendiary region of the Near Middle East is one step closer to the danger of a broader escalation after the assassination of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran early this morning.