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Yahya Sinwar's ascent to the leadership of Hamas is deeply rooted in his early life experiences as a refugee in Gaza. Growing up in the Hanyounis refugee camp, his family's history of displacement due to Israeli actions instilled in him a strong sense of the desire for Palestinian liberation. This ardent belief was further fueled during his time as a student activist in the late 80s, coinciding with the founding of Hamas. His lengthy imprisonment in Israel, where he organized fellow Palestinian prisoners and learned Hebrew, marked a significant period that shaped his understanding of the conflict and laid the groundwork for his eventual rise to power within Hamas.