Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is reportedly alive and has reestablished contact with his associates in Qatar, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 News.
Citing an official in Jerusalem, the television station stated the arch terrorist and architect of the October 7 massacre had suspended correspondence with his cohorts in Doha for the last several weeks, believing an agreement to end the war in Gaza is unlikely. Sinwar’s absence from the mediation efforts led to speculation that the 61-year-old was killed in an IDF operation.
Sinwar has been steadfastly demanding an immediate discontinuation of the fighting and a complete withdrawal of all IDF forces from the coastal enclave. Israeli negotiators have rejected these demands, insisting the Jewish state will not agree to any arrangement allowing Hamas to retain control and rebuild its military capabilities.
On Friday, a United States intelligence source informed The New York Times of Sinwar's acceptance that he might not survive the conflict, and this understanding may be influencing his reluctance to engage further in the peace process.
The Times also revealed Sinwar believes the only solution for his organization’s survival is to escalate the current hostilities into a wider regional affair, as this would compel Israel to allocate fewer resources to confronting the operatives under his command.
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