Who could replace Yahya Sinwar as Hamas chief? His Oct. 7 co-conspirator brother may be next in line

The death of Hamas’ “Face of Evil” who masterminded the Oct. 7 massacre has left behind a power vacuum — and whoever steps in to fill the void will heavily influence the course of the ongoing war.

Yahya Sinwar, 61, was killed by chance Wednesday during a routine raid by Israeli Defense Force troops patrolling Rafah. The IDF fired a tank round into a building after encountering Hamas militants, and Sinwar’s body was later discovered in the wreckage.

“Hamas is an organization that has been plunged into chaos,” Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research of Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Hamas expert, told The Post, who pointed out that viable candidates to take the terror group’s reins are dwindling.

Sinwar — who led Hamas in Gaza since 2017, but took over as the greater terror group’s acting chief in July after former leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran — was instrumental in shutting down peace talks with Israel after his takeover, arguing Hamas was on the verge of eliminating the Jewish state.

With nearly 100 hostages from October 7 still held by Hamas, whoever takes Sinwar’s place as top terrorist will likely greatly influence how the conflict unfolds — and whether peace can be reached, or if the carnage will continue into the coming year.

Here’s a look at some of the top candidates:

Mohammed Sinwar

The brother of the late Hamas leader, Mohammed Sinwar is one of the terror group’s most senior commanders of its military branch and could be a “dark horse” candidate to take over the group, Schanzer said.

At 49, Sinwar has flown under the radar most of career with Hamas and made few public appearances or comments to media, according to Reuters. He remains one of Israel’s top targets and has survived numerous assassination attempts over the years.

Sinwar lacks the charismatic leadership and vision his brother had, Schanzer said, but his name could command respect from the Hamas rank and file — as bloodlines can remain respected connections for leaderships and fortunes in the Arab world.

The Sinwar brothers were very close, and both are believed to have worked together to plan the October 7 attack on Israel which left more than 1,200 dead, according to Fox News.

Experts told The Post that Hamas could opt to retaliate to Yahya’s slaying by murdering the remaining hostages — a grim possibility if Mohammed is next in line, giving the sibling’s shared ruthlessness.

Khalil Al Hayya

Hamas’ top negotiator — who was at the forefront of cease-fire talks in Cairo and Doha over the summer — is seen as a favorite to succeed Sinwar.

He was a close deputy to Sinwar, but if he were to ascend to leadership, it’s possible Hamas could take a route toward diplomacy, according to experts.

In the spring, Al Hayya voiced the possibility of giving up its arms if Israel allowed the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank – something Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has adamantly opposed.

“All the military chiefs who helped him launch the Oct. 7 attack are already dead, so only Hamas’ political chiefs are left,” retired Gen. Jack Keane, chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, previously told The Post.

Khaled Meshaal

Khaled Meshaal, 68, was Hamas’ leader from 2004 to 2017 — and Schanzer predicts he’s the most likely candidate to take over.

“He’s the heir apparent out of the process of elimination — literally,” Schanzer said.

Designated a global terrorist by the US, Meshaal remains a high ranking official based out of Qatar, and reportedly missed out on Hamas’ top spot after Haniyeh’s assassination only because of a power play by Sinwar in August, according to Schanzer.

Meshaal called for an escalation of violence after Sinwar took over — urging Palestinians in the West Bank to carry out suicide bombings against Israelis — but Schanzer thinks his position in Qatar could be used by the White House to end the war once and for all.

“It’s time for the White House to up the ante and demand that Doha act like a genuine ally and extradite one of the world’s most wanted terrorists,” Schanzer said, noting that the war in Gaza could “end tomorrow” if Qatar, a US ally, pressured Meshaal into calling for the release of hostages.

Hussam Badran

Hussam Badran, 58, is one of Hamas’s most prominent public spokesmen.

Badran served time as a leader in Hamas military wing, but it is largely his status as one of Hamas’ last living public faces that would make him viable candidate to take over.

“We’re in unchartered waters,” Schanzer said, noting Badran was an unlikely candidate — and not much of a leader to boot — but perhaps one of the few remaining candidates.

“I don’t know how Hamas can regroup at this point,” he added.

Mohammad Shabana

Mohammad Shabana is one of Hamas’ last surviving top leaders of Hamas’ military, heading up their southern forces in Rafah.

He is believed to have played a major role in planning the extensive network of tunnels in Rafah that have made the fighting so fraught in the area, according to Reuters.

Shabana has been in charge of Hamas’ forces in Rafah since 2014.

With Post wires and Ronny Reyes