Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar ran Gaza so well, Benjamin Netanyahu once spoke in his own cabinet in favour of supporting Hamas against the Palestinian Authority, Marwan Bishara reminds us.

“It’s very important to recall the last six years from 2017 to 2023, until when the October 7 attack happened - for six years Yahya Sinwar was basically the ruler - he governed Gaza. Gaza was a well-run machine. Some people argue it was better run than the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, in the sense that everything from water and sewage and electricity to security and order; education, medical and so on and so forth.

“So here you had a leader of a strip of more than two million people basically under Israeli Siege and yet it was basically functioning so well that even prime minister Netanyahu thought that this could be a good thing for Israel, and he actually spoke in his own cabinet in favour of supporting Hamas in Gaza against the Palestinian Authority. ….”

Watch the full interview here:

The rationale behind Hamas electing Sinwar as its new leader: Marwan Bishara

Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights that the situation is both a huge challenge and a significant responsibility, particularly during a time of war and what he describes as genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Bishara emphasises that while Sinwar is actively resisting or hiding in the tunnels of Gaza, it’s crucial to recall his role as the ruler of Gaza from 2017 to 2023, up until October 7. He suggests that understanding this period is essential to fully grasp Sinwar’s influence and actions.

First Published by Al Jazeera English, August 7, 2024.