He’s the number one wanted man right now. Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip since 2017, is seen by Israel as the main responsible for the October 7 terrorist attack that started the conflict that has inflamed the Middle East in recent weeks. Born on October 29, 1962, in Khan Younis, one of the most abandoned areas of Gaza, Sinwar spent almost 23 years in an Israeli prison and received multiple life sentences for the murder of three IDF (Israeli army) soldiers and twelve Palestinians suspected of killing him. He was sentenced to imprisonment. He cooperates with the Jewish state. Israel is now searching for him in Gaza’s underground tunnel network, where he is thought to be hiding.
On Friday, November 10, the IDF released a video featuring Sinwar. However, it is not possible to officially confirm this news. There are also those who think that even Hamas does not know where Sinwar really is. The truth is that finding it is at the top of Israel’s priority list.
He is mentioned as a cruel and charismatic man. This was recalled by agents of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, who questioned him in the 1980s: “He bravely took responsibility for the punishment meted out to a suspected informant. He summoned the man’s brother, a member of Hamas, and forced him to bury him alive, throwing earth over him until he suffocated.” This is Yahya Sinwar.”
The current leader of Hamas in Gaza was arrested by Israel in 1988. He remained in prison until 2011, when he was released in exchange for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas in 2006. After his release, Sinwar wasted no time. . “We know that Israel has 200 nuclear warheads and the most advanced air power in the region. We do not have the capacity to disintegrate Israel,” he said in a televised statement. Years later, to some these words sound like an attempt to appear weak in order to divert attention and strike at the right time. Sinwar, who advised Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yasin for years, was elected leader of the group in 2017, replacing Ismail Haniye, who was said to be appointed head of Hamas in Qatar.
Sinwar was re-elected in 2021. Loved and feared: His violent methods against Palestinian dissidents and spies established his image as a leader. Israeli intelligence recalls that there were people in Gaza who called him “the butcher of Khan Younis”. News spread that his house was hit during the attack in Khan Younis in May 2021. A few days later, the Hamas leader announced in a provocative tone that he would walk home and challenged Israel to kill him. He later showed himself walking through the streets of Gaza, surrounded by crowds.
A few days ago, Sinwar proposed the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Nothing was done about the initiative. Immediately after the October 7 attack, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi blamed Sinwar for what happened and warned, “He and his men are already dead.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the same stance, comparing him to a “little Hitler” and calling him a “dead man walking.”
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
