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Yahya Sinwar, a top Hamas leader and the orchestrator of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, remains a central figure in the ongoing conflict. Despite Israeli efforts to target key Hamas leaders, Sinwar has managed to evade capture. Reports indicate that he is among Israel’s most wanted individuals.
Sinwar is believed to be carrying a bag filled with 25 kilograms of dynamite and using at least 20 hostages as human shields. According to Kobi Michael, a former Shin Bet interrogator, this tactic has made it extremely difficult for Israeli forces to eliminate Sinwar without endangering the lives of the captives. Recent footage discovered by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) showed Sinwar moving through a tunnel with his family, just days after the conflict erupted.
Despite having several opportunities to target Sinwar, Israeli forces have refrained due to the hostages’ presence. Sinwar has shown no remorse for the October 7 attack, even as Israeli bombardments have severely impacted Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry reports over 40,000 Palestinians killed during Israel’s year-long bombing campaign.
Israeli forces claim to have struck more than 40,000 targets in Gaza, uncovering a network of tunnels and rocket launcher sites. Although several high-ranking Hamas officials, including military leader Mohammed Deif, senior commander Saleh al-Arouri, and political leader Ismail Haniyeh, have been killed in strikes, Sinwar remains defiant and continues to lead Hamas.
Now 62, Sinwar took over the leadership of Hamas after Haniyeh’s death in an explosion in Tehran. As the conflict continues, Sinwar remains a key figure, guarded by hostages and a protective network of explosives, making him elusive despite ongoing efforts to capture him.
