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As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues its ground incursion into the Gaza Strip, it has been focused on eliminating Hamas terrorists and rescuing hostages. But there is one objective that is front of mind for Israel’s military – the killing of the leader who led the initial surprise attack against Israel on October 7.
IDF personnel have indicated that they are currently hunting down Yahya Sinwar, the individual believed to be the mastermind of Hamas’ efforts against Israel.
If there’s one clear objective of Israel’s war in Gaza right now it is this: To hunt down and assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Referred to by Israel as the Butcher of Khan Younis for his violent and cruel torture methods against his enemies, both Israeli and Palestinian, Sinwar, 60, is widely seen as being behind the massacre of Israeli civilians carried out by thousands of Hamas militants on Oct. 7.
The attack, in which 1,400 people are now known to have been killed, with a further 200 missing and likely being held hostage inside the Gaza Strip, is the worst against Jews since the Holocaust. Civilian men, women and children were not only murdered but, according to multiple eyewitness reports also brutalized, raped and even decapitated.
“That man is in our sights,” Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told journalists over the weekend. “Sinwar is the leader of Hamas in Gaza and he’s a dead man walking.”
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“We will get to him, however long it takes… and this war could be long,” he said.
Sinwar is one of Hamas’ major players, having been involved with the terrorist organization since its early years. He has been involved in several heinous atrocities against Israelis and Palestinians.
A State Department Media Note describes his role in the organization.
Yahya Sinwar is a Hamas operative known for his role in founding the forerunner of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT. He was arrested by Israel in 1988 for his terrorist activity. Sinwar was later released from prison in 2011 as part of a prisoner swap for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Sinwar was serving four life sentences for the abduction and murder of two Israeli soldiers in the late 1980s. He is considered to be one of the most senior and prominent prisoners to be exchanged, and has called on militants to capture more Israeli soldiers.
If and when Israel eliminates Sinwar, it could be a turning point in the war. Taking out the figurehead who executed the attack would show that Hamas might finally be falling. Of course, there is also the chance that it could inspire the terrorists to fight even harder to avenge their leader. But the fact remains, at some point, Israel is likely going to decimate Hamas.
Still, even when this happens, it would not necessarily signal the end of the conflict. There would still be more Hamas operatives in the fight – and if Iran and Hezbollah decide to get more involved, as both indicated they could, Israel would have an even tougher war on its hands. The fighting is far from over, but how bloody this war will get remains to be seen.
