The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have declared Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' top leader in Gaza, along with his younger brother Mohammad Sinwar, and two other senior military commanders, Rafa'a Salameh and Mohammad Deif, as the most wanted terrorists in the region.
As the IDF prepares for a potentially fierce battle against Hamas, leaflets were dropped over Gaza's second most populous city, Khan Younis, offering a substantial financial reward of $1 million for anyone who provides information about the whereabouts of these four men.
Yahya Sinwar, also known as "the Butcher of Khan Younis," is considered the mastermind behind the massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, which sparked the current war. Sinwar, 61, was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp and has been a militant activist since the founding of Hamas in 1987.
He was arrested by Israel in 1989 for his involvement in the abduction and killing of two Israelis and the torture and murder of four Palestinians. Sinwar served 22 years in an Israeli jail before being released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange for the abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. During his time in prison, Sinwar became a prominent figure among Hamas prisoners and learned to speak fluent Hebrew. He is known for his extreme ideology and religious beliefs, and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the Palestinian cause.
Mohammad Sinwar, Yahya's younger brother, joined Hamas' military wing in the early 1990s and took part in several deadly terror attacks against Israel. He became the commander of Hamas' Khan Younis Brigade in 2005 and was involved in the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006. Although Mohammad is of lower rank than his brother, he is considered to be very close to him and was involved in planning the October 7 attack.
Rafa'a Salameh, the commander of the Hamas battalion in Khan Younis, is not generally considered a prominent figure. However, he is included on the list of wanted terrorists because he was born and raised in Khan Younis, and targeting him weakens the enemy, according to experts.
Mohammad Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, is considered to be enemy number one for Israel. Deif, 58, is a master bombmaker and played a crucial role in developing Hamas' military capabilities, including its rocket arsenal and attack strategy. He is also believed to have helped design the subterranean tunnel system in Gaza. Deif has survived several assassination attempts and has been confined to a wheelchair since an Israeli attack in 2006. He keeps a low profile and rarely makes public appearances.
Despite the IDF's efforts to eliminate top Hamas leaders, only a handful have been taken out so far. Rawhi Mushtaha, a political and strategic leader considered to be Yahya Sinwar's "twin," was killed in the fighting. Mushtaha was knowledgeable about the Palestinian prisoners Hamas is hoping to exchange for Israeli hostages. Several senior Hamas operatives from the military brigades of northern Gaza, including Ahmed Al-Ghandoor and Ayman Noufal, have also been eliminated.
The IDF's decision to offer a $1 million bounty for the capture or killing of these top Hamas leaders is symbolic of what could be one of the toughest battles for Israel in this war. Hamas used the cease-fire to prepare for this battle, and Khan Younis could soon be described as Hamas' last stand. While it is unlikely that Gazans will turn them over, the wanted men are likely feeling the heat with their names plastered all over war-torn Gaza.
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