Israel Inches Closer to Capturing Hamas Founder Yahya Sinwar

Israel Closes In On Hamas Founder Yahya Sinwar: A Matter of Time

New Delhi: Israel announced on Thursday that it was closing in on Yahya Sinwar, one of the founders of Hamas and the alleged mastermind behind the October 7 attacks. As fighting continued in Gaza’s main southern city, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a video message that Israeli forces had surrounded Sinwar’s house and that it was “only a matter of time until they find him.” Netanyahu, who has vowed to “crush” Hamas for the October 7 attack that claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives, emphasized that Sinwar’s home was not his castle and that he could flee, but eventually, they would find him.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that Sinwar is hiding underground, but did not disclose further information about the intelligence or the whereabouts. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated, “Our job is to find Sinwar and kill him.”

Yahya Sinwar, 61, was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp and was elected as Hamas’ leader in Gaza in 2017. He was previously arrested in 1988 and sentenced to consecutive life terms for planning the abduction and murder of two Israeli soldiers, as well as the murder of four Palestinians. Reports suggest that Sinwar is currently leading negotiations for prisoner-hostage swaps and directing military operations from bunkers beneath Gaza, along with other Hamas commanders.

Sinwar had recently played a significant role in talks mediated by Qatar, which resulted in the ceasefire that ended last week. This ceasefire came after Israel released more than 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have already eliminated two members of the Hamas ruling politburo and individuals associated with Sinwar.

Israel’s relentless pursuit of Yahya Sinwar highlights their determination to dismantle Hamas’ leadership and hold them accountable for the October 7 attacks. The situation remains tense as Israel continues its efforts to locate and neutralize Sinwar.

(With agency inputs)