Hamas official: New leader draws inspiration from Hezbollah

Newly elected Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar is expected to concentrate efforts on strengthening the terrorist organization's military wing, according to an unnamed senior Hamas official.

"Sinwar will not deliver a speech at the Square of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza as [his predecessor Ismail] Haniyeh did," the official told Israel Hayom. "He will focus on turning Hamas' military wing into the strongest body in the Gaza Strip."

The official further warned that Sinwar is likely to make a number of internal and structural changes to Hamas. "We must remember that for the last six months, Haniyeh has been out of Gaza in his election campaign in the Persian Gulf principalities and Arab states, and that Sinwar was essentially leading the movement," he said.

He added that now that Sinwar has been officially elected, "He can put into practice Hamas in Gaza's policies related to foreign affairs and security, including relations with Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, the conflict with Israel and dealing with the civilian population in the Gaza Strip."

The official went on to say: "In contrast with Haniyeh, the new leader will focus on sweeping logistical changes in the policy of Hamas in Gaza," in addition to strengthening the terrorist group's military branch.

"His model is Hezbollah, and he will allocate considerable funds to that end at the expense of civil and welfare activities undertaken by the movement during Haniyeh's rule."

At the same time, Hamas parliamentarian Salah al-Bardwil, who is affiliated with the extremist branch of the group associated with Sinwar, said in an interview with a Hamas-run television station, "Yahya Sinwar is a political leader ahead of being a military leader, and he is not the only one who will be making decisions since Hamas is not a dictatorial movement." Bardwil further claimed that rumors of Sinwar being a warmonger are false.

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