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A portrait of Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza. (Reuters file photo)
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s hardened stance on hostage negotiations with Israel signals a shift towards seeking wider regional conflict
Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar has reportedly hardened his stand against negotiating a hostage deal with Israel, as US officials suggest he is seeking to escalate the conflict into a broader regional war beyond Gaza.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Sinwar believes he may not survive the ongoing war, which has hindered any potential talks regarding the release of hostages held in Gaza. Hamas has shown little interest in continuing negotiations over the past few weeks, The New York Times reported, citing US officials privy to the talks on Gaza.
Deal Or No Deal
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that Hamas has refused to engage in talks related to hostages during this period. According to NYT, Sinwar’s belief that a larger conflict could pressure Israel into scaling back its military operations in Gaza has further complicated the prospect of a deal.
US spy agencies have reportedly established a targeting cell focused on locating Sinwar, who has become less flexible in negotiations. While there have been unverified rumors about his fate, officials have stated that communication between Sinwar and Hamas has significantly decreased, leading to speculation about his current status.
Where is Sinwar?
The Israeli military has reportedly come close to Sinwar’s position in recent months, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant saying that signs of Sinwar’s presence were found in tunnels near Rafah, where six hostages were killed in August. Despite these developments, there is uncertainty surrounding Sinwar’s whereabouts and condition.
Rumours about the whereabouts of the Hamas leader have intensified after reports surfaced last month that he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. During a recent IDF operational briefing, a photo of Sinwar was displayed with a question mark over his name.
Hamas leader’s fate
The image has led to speculation that it was a subtle message from the IDF regarding Sinwar’s fate. Israeli intelligence experts have expressed concerns that statements attributed to Sinwar in recent weeks may not have originated from him, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Sinwar, who has been a primary target for both US and Israeli forces since the October 7 Hamas attacks, is believed to be hiding within Gaza’s extensive network of tunnels. There are claims that he has adopted disguises, including dressing as a woman, to evade capture.
The conflict began when Hamas-led militants entered Israel on October 7, killing over 1,200 people, and taking another 250 hostage in Gaza. More than 41,000 Palestinians have died. Nearly a year into the war, Sinwar has continued to evade the Israeli military.
