Israel says Hamas leader 'hiding from place to place'

Israeli Defense Minister Gallant said Hamas leader Sinwar is moving from place to place and is no longer in charge of the group's operations.

"He is avoiding the leadership of Hamas," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on February 5 about Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar.

Mr Gallant said that Sinwar was no longer in charge of the operation or Hamas forces and was “concerned about his own survival”. Tel Aviv accused Mr Sinwar of masterminding the attack on Israeli territory in October 2023, causing a conflict that is now nearly in its fifth month.

Hamas has not commented on the information.

The Israeli military has in recent weeks attacked Khan Younis, a key city in the southern Gaza Strip and Mr Sinwar’s hometown. The Hamas leader has not been seen since October 7, 2023.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip in October 2022. Photo: AFP

Mr Gallant said the Israeli military had found "important documents" at places where Hamas leader Sinwar had been staying recently, adding that it would continue to pursue Hamas across the Gaza Strip.

"The Israeli army will go to places where we have never fought before, to the last bastion of Hamas, which is Rafah," the Israeli defense minister said. Rafah is a city south of Gaza, bordering Egypt and is home to more than half of the strip's population displaced by the conflict.

Mr. Sinwar joined Hamas when it was founded by Ahmad Yassin in 1987. Mr. Sinwar was once sentenced to prison by Israel, but he outwitted Israeli intelligence to be released and secretly planned the attack.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP )

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