In a chilling revelation, Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas official in Gaza, has reportedly conceded that he views the deaths of Palestinian civilians as "necessary sacrifices" to sustain its ongoing conflict with Israel.
This shocking admission comes in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attack, which Sinwar is believed to have orchestrated. The New York Post reports that these disturbing sentiments were expressed in leaked messages.
According to the Wall Street Journal, which obtained the messages, Sinwar has been instrumental in obstructing cease-fire talks, even as Israel faces increasing international criticism over the escalating Palestinian death toll, which has now surpassed 37,000. "We have the Israelis right where we want them," Sinwar purportedly stated in a message to Hamas officials engaged in negotiations with Qatari and Egyptian representatives.
The Wall Street Journal's review of numerous messages reveals Sinwar's cold and calculated approach to decision-making, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the lives of his fellow Palestinians, provided Israel suffers more losses in the conflict than Hamas. Sinwar's ruthless stance was further evidenced in a conversation with Hamas' top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, following the death of Haniyeh's three sons in an Israeli airstrike on April 10. Sinwar reportedly told Haniyeh that the deaths of his sons and other Palestinians in Gaza would only "infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor."
The leaked correspondence also suggests that Sinwar, despite dedicating most of his life to the fight against Israel, was taken aback by the severity of the violence perpetrated by his militants on October 7. "Things went out of control," Sinwar allegedly admitted in one message, referring to the abduction of women and children. "People got caught up in this, and that should not have happened," he claimed.
The October 7 attack resulted in over 1,200 fatalities and the kidnapping of more than 250 individuals, prompting Israel to launch a full-scale war in Gaza to rescue the hostages and apprehend Sinwar. Despite Israel's successful obliteration of nearly all of Hamas' battalions and strongholds in Gaza, Sinwar appears resolute in prolonging the conflict. He has reportedly criticized his superiors for considering negotiations with Israel, stating, "As long as fighters are still standing and we have not lost the war, such contacts should be immediately terminated. We have the capabilities to continue fighting for months."
Sinwar's uncompromising stance seems to have influenced Hamas negotiators, who have since repeatedly rejected cease-fire agreements that echoed their previous demands. In recent messages, Sinwar has reiterated his commitment to perpetuating the conflict as long as Israel continues to lose international support, even if it costs him his life. "We have to move forward on the same path we started," Sinwar wrote, adding, "Or let it be a new Karbala," a reference to the 7th-century battle in Iraq where the Prophet Muhammad's grandson was killed.
Sinwar, who was apprehended by the IDF in 1988 and released in a hostage exchange in 2011, ascended to power within Hamas to become its top Gaza official in 2017. His chilling admissions and relentless pursuit of conflict, regardless of the human cost, provide a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges of achieving peace in the region.
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