- Israel's chief of staff targets Hamas leader Sinwar
The Israeli Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, sees the election of the former Hamas chief in the Gaza Strip as the new head of the Islamists' Politburo as an added incentive to locate Jihia al-Sinwar. "We will do everything in our power to find him, target him, and ensure that the head of the Politburo is replaced once again," Halevi said during a visit to an air force base.
"We have carried out very important operations in recent weeks, taking out the highest-ranking commanders of our most problematic enemies, and we will not stop." Sinwar's new title does not absolve him of being a murderer, Halevi said of the Hamas leader, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the terror attack on October 7, 2023.
After visiting the base, Halevi emphasized the "highest readiness" of the military in light of the escalation of recent days. "We will know how to launch a very swift offensive everywhere in Lebanon, everywhere in Gaza, everywhere in the Middle East, above or below ground," he stressed. "We will send a very clear message to our enemies, those who attack us, those who speak in every speech about how they will destroy the State of Israel."
The European Union has expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, given the recent developments in Gaza and the new leadership within the European Union's foreign policy statements. Despite the new head of the Hamas Politburo, Jihia al-Sinwar, the Israeli military remains dedicated, as Herzi Halevi stated, "We will do everything in our power to find him, target him, and ensure that the head of the Politburo is replaced once again."
