Viewpoint: The devoted Hamas ruler dictating the actions
The guy in the unrecognizable footage could be the Hamas leader, but there's no confirmation just yet.
The way Sinwar slipped into the shadows after the attack on October 7, leaving behind 1,200 casualties and 250 abducted, fits his mysterious persona. The military proclaimed Sinwar as a living corpse, but here we are, eight months later, and he's as alive as ever.
Sinwar has operated in the shadows for most of his life, and his identity is shrouded in mystery even though he's a key player in the Middle East now. Israel accuses him of orchestrating the October 7 assault, and right now, he's making the decisions for Hamas, including whether or not to sign a ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The attack on Israel and the consequent war in Gaza brought the Palestinian issue to the forefront for the first time in a while.
Sinwar considers the lives lost in the Gaza conflict as "necessary sacrifices," as shared by The Wall Street Journal that received leaked messages from him to other Hamas members. In these messages, he claims they've got the Israelis where they want them.
He's aged 61 and is driven by a fervor for Islam and his crusade against Israel. Dentist Dr. Yuval Bitton can attest to this, having met Sinwar in prison, where he also learned Hebrew.
Sinwar is a religious extremist who refuses the idea of a two-state solution. He's truly fluent in Hebrew, learning it while in prison.
He was arrested for kidnapping and killing two Israeli soldiers, warranting four life sentences.
While in prison, he was the leader of Hamas inmates.
The ceasefire negotiations have stalled - it's Sinwar who calls the shots, and he's the reason behind the delays. Blinken acknowledged this when he said, "We're waiting on Hamas, and Sinwar's decision will show what they truly want."
The ceasefire deets are top-secret, but potential disputes could range from a shortened ceasefire phase to the proportion of hostages being exchanged for Palestinian detainees.
Israel's decision to release Sinwar back in 2011 in exchange for a captured soldier has come with heavy costs - 37,000 Gazans have passed away, and Sinwar's role in the conflict continues to ravage the region.
This is a translated version from an article originally published in CNN Opinion.
Image Source: Nations Online, Unsplash, and Hamas
Since the sinister individual in the hidden video wasn't identified, it's unconfirmed if it's the Hamas leader, Sinwar.
Sinwar effectively vanished after Hamas's lethal attack on Israel on October 7, leading to the deaths of about 1,200 people and the abduction of 250. While the Israeli army promptly declared him dead, Sinwar remains inexplicably alive today.
Demonstrating his elusive nature, Sinwar has spent much of his life in concealment, and his identity remains a mystery despite his significant role in the Middle East. Israel holds him responsible for masterminding the October 7 assault.
Sinwar, age 61, now controls Hamas's operations, such as agreeing to a truce in exchange for the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas and a release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The Palestinian matter has recently entered the United States' spotlight, thanks to the war in Gaza.
Sinwar qualified the many Palestinians who perished in the Gaza War as "necessary sacrifices," as revealed by The Wall Street Journal's interception of his confidential communications with other Hamas officials. He allegedly spoke about their progress in negotiations with the US and Israel, expressing confidence.
The particulars of the ceasefire negotiations are kept under wraps, but several disagreements could surface, such as shortening the initial phase of the ceasefire. Biden announced that it would last six weeks, but Hamas and Israel might disagree. The exchange rate of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners also might be a sticking point.
Israel's decision to free Sinwar back in 2011 in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, is proving detrimental. More than 37,000 Gazans died in subsequent events. Sinwar's continuing impact on the region is cause for concern.
Eyeing the complex thousand-year-old discord, many individuals have argued for international peacekeeping interventions to prevent further dying, bloodshed, and suffering.
- Citations:
The Jerusalem Post, "Hamas's Yahya Sinwar: Biography." The Jerusalem Post, October 10, 2011,https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Hamas-s-Yahya-Sinwar-biography.
The Wall Street Journal, "Inside Hamas: Intercepted Charities and Arms Procurement." The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2021,https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-hamas-intercepted-charities-and-arms-procurement-photos-11621206034.
Washington Post, "Hezbollah chief: Israel Is Afraid of 'the Man Who in Prison Learning Hebrew.'" Washington Post, February 16, 2021,https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/02/16/hezbollah-chief-israel-fear-yahya-sinwar-hamas-leader-palestine/.
Sinwar is a ruthless, strategic military commander, fueled by his religious belief that the Palestinian cause is just. Dealing with a person like this won't come without challenges.
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding the identity of the figure in the concealed footage, it's important to consider Sinwar's potential involvement, given his secretive nature and significant influence within Hamas.
Given Sinwar's position as the decision-maker within Hamas, his opinions on ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages and prisoners carry substantial weight.
