Hamas leader Sinwar reportedly changes location following killing of Nasrallah

Gaza leadership reportedly considering demand for safe exit as part of hostage negotiations

Saudi Arabia state-owned Al Arabiya reported that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, changed his position in the Gaza Strip following the killing of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. Hamas has also reportedly changed Sinwar's security protocols in recent days.

Sources told the Saudi TV channel that Hamas leaders want any future ceasefire to guarantee their safety. As a precaution, Hamas decided to suspend meetings of its leaders in Lebanon for the foreseeable future.

Hamas also has reportedly limited its correspondence with Hamas leadership abroad and outside groups, over fears of compromising Sinwar and the remaining Gaza leadership.

According to French news site Le Parisien, citing a Lebanese security source familiar with the details of the strike, Nassrallah was compromised by “an Iranian mole” who communicated the leader’s arrival to the underground bunker to the Israelis, allowing them to attack while Nasrallah was at the site.

Israeli state-funded news site Kan reported that Hamas decided to limit internal communications to written correspondence to prevent Israeli intelligence from intercepting conversations or finding the location of leadership.

Islamic Jihad also reportedly suspended its meetings in Lebanon after the strike on Nasrallah and other Hezbollah and Iranian leaders.

Hamas leadership is reportedly concerned that its communications with outside groups could similarly be compromised, leading to the removal of Sinwar and other Gaza leaders.

Recent reports in Israeli media said that Hamas leadership may be planning to ask for a clause guaranteeing safe transit from Gaza for Sinwar and other leaders as part of a hostage release deal.

Hostage negotiations have apparently been less of a priority for the Israeli government as it shifted its focus to Hezbollah in the north.

Following the official confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, Hamas issued a statement: “The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) mourns with our Palestinian people, our Arab and Islamic nation, and the free people of the world the martyrdom of His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, who was martyred along with a group of his brothers, the leaders, in the Battle of the Flood of Al-Aqsa and on the road to Jerusalem, supporting our Palestinian people and their valiant resistance in confronting the Zionist enemy.”

Hashem Safi al-Din, Nasrallah's cousin, is believed to be the successor to Nasrallah. If so, it indicates that al-Din either survived the attack or, more likely, was not in the bunker at the time of the strike. He was widely seen as the natural choice for Nasrallah's successor and is believed to have already begun acting as the head for the terror group, until the Shura Council is able to vote for a successor.

Safi al-Din's appointment is seen as a double-sided move; it shows continuity of the leadership, while giving the position to someone known for his harsh stance towards Israel and commitment to the fight against the Jewish state.