The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has accumulated quite a few enemies and political rivals inside and outside Hamas over the years.
The man who strangled to death at the hands of Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel, and who was released in the Shalit deal after serving more than 20 years in Israeli prison, has built himself as the sole ruler of the Gaza Strip.
His strength, cruelty, and militancy helped him in this.
His character is enigmatic and full of contradictions, not only for Israelis.
The Palestinians did not crack it to the end either.
An Islamist with uncompromising principles in terms of the struggle in Israel, but also pragmatic when he chooses.
In the middle, his complex personality.
"It is not clear how Sinwar is different from the Palestinian Authority, which is accused of coordinating security with Israel," they say in Gaza.
"Sinwar also talks to Israel, makes deals with it and coordinates 12,000 Gazan workers to work in Israel. If you kill him, who will come? Do not be sure that the next one will agree to have a dialogue with you, as Sinwar did."
Yahya Sinwar arrives for a demonstration on the Gaza border
Sinwar has established himself as a dictator with a special status in Gaza.
His opponents in Hamas and jihad respect him, maybe it's charisma, maybe it's fear.
He has passed not simple tests and so far he has passed them successfully, some would say with great honors.
He also succeeded in the last internal election barrier for the Hamas leadership, but along the way Sinwar also surrounded himself with opponents, some of whom are waiting for the day when he will step aside.
Although they do not wish for his elimination, and rather unite around him in the face of the threat of targeted assassinations, at the same time they will not regret his departure very much.
"No one wants to see their leader eliminated, but there are those who do not exactly care, and will not shed a tear," they say in Gaza.
The assassination of Sinwar may bring an end to the "era of sole rule" in Gaza, but will not bring down Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Other leaders in the organization will be hired, and Islamic Jihad will take advantage of this to increase their influence in the Strip.
Those who will mainly see this as an opportunity are actually those sitting in Ramallah, members of the Palestinian Authority who to this day have not forgotten to Hamas the "abduction" of the Gaza Strip from them 15 years ago.
In any case, the growing talk of eliminating Sinwar could actually further strengthen its position in the Palestinian public.
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