Hamas Leader Osama Hamdan refuted reports of communication difficulties with Sinwar

BEIRUT — Osama Hamdan, a senior Beirut-based Hamas official, refuted on Thursday the claims made by some media outlets about difficulties in communicating with the movement's new leader, Yahya Sinwar.

Sinwar, who has been Hamas's leader in Gaza since 2017, has not been seen since the Oct. 7 attack.

In a statement issued today, Hamdan clarified the situation, saying: "I mentioned in my statements yesterday that, due to the nature of the battle and the Zionist aggression, there are some difficulties, but communication is constant and effective, and the movement's management is proceeding well."

Hamdan also added that the Hamas leadership is closely following up with Sinwar, "on the process of completing the necessary arrangements for the leadership's work." He assured that "things are progressing smoothly, although it may take some time due to security requirements."

Earlier in August, Hamas named Sinwar as its new political chief following the assassination of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which escalated tensions and fears of a military conflagration in the Middle East.

Since July 31, fears of a coordinated attack between Iran and its axis in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen have been looming in the region. 

Iran has vowed "punishment" for Israel for the assassination of Haniyeh on its soil. However, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack and has declined to comment on it. Additionally, Hezbollah has threatened significant retaliation in response to the Israeli-claimed killing of its senior military commander, Fouad Shukur, in the southern suburbs of Beirut — an attack that also left five civilians dead, including children.

Meanwhile, cease-fire negotiations began on Thursday in Doha, Qatar. However, a source within the Palestinian Islamist movement in Lebanon told L'Orient Today that Hamas "will not participate" in the talks. Moreover, Hamas informed mediators that it was ready to meet with them after Thursday's session if there were any developments or a serious response from Israel, according to an official familiar with the negotiations cited by the Washington Post.