Israel proposes an opportunity for Hamas' leader to depart from Gaza
In the midst of paused discussions about a truce and captive exchange, Israel proposes a secure route for Hamas's influential figure, Yahya al-Sinwar, to depart from the Gaza Strip. Brigadier general Gal Hirsch, responsible for hostages and missing persons in Israel, expressed willingness to establish such a safe passage for Sinwar, his relatives, and anyone accompanying him, during an interview with Bloomberg Finance.
Hirsch openly stated, "We are aiming to retrieve the captives. Our requirements include disarmament, desensitization, and obviously, a better system to manage Gaza." The offer was reportedly initiated by Israel's special envoy for captive exchanges, serving under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approximately two days prior. Hirsch refrained from commenting on potential repercussions.
A Hamas representative acknowledged the offer to permit Sinwar's departure as part of a broader Gaza accord. However, Hamas will only engage in conversation regarding this offer if it is included in an all-encompassing agreement that deals with ongoing uncertainties related to the truce and Gaza's future, as well as establishing an autonomous Palestinian state within a new political landscape.
Reports indicate that Sinwar's whereabouts remain elusive. Intelligence suggests he's concealed in an extensive underground tunnel system beneath the Gaza Strip. A Hamas representative divulged in mid-January that the leaders in Gaza would not voluntarily leave. "Either victory or martyrdom," stated a confidential source from Hamas in Beirut. "Gaza is our land, and our blood is of equal value as the people's."
Negotiations focusing on a Gaza truce, supported by mediators like Egypt, the US, and Qatar's Gulf state, and the liberation of Israeli detainees held prison by Islamic Hamas, have stalled.
The offer for a secure route for Yahya al-Sinwar to leave the Gaza Strip is contingent on a broader agreement involving the truce, Gaza's future, and an autonomous Palestinian state. Despite his concealed location in an underground tunnel system, Sinwar refuses to leave the Gaza Strip, echoing the sentiment that "Gaza is our land, and our blood is of equal value as the people's."
