Israeli intelligence has increased its operations to obtain specific intelligence on Yahya Sinwar, the new political head of Hamas in Gaza. Sources told IANS that hardline Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant once again called for the liquidation of Sinwar.
Reports have indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defence Minister, Gallant, have sat with Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronan Bar amongst other officials to discuss the immediate need to remove Sinwar.
Gallant had earlier called for the assassination of Sinwar, saying that Israel was determined to get the notorious Hamas leader.
After Sinwar was appointed as Hamas' political leader, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement through its spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, "Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist responsible for the horrific attacks on October 7th. He belongs with Mohammed Deif and the other October 7th terrorists, and that is where we intend to send him.".
It was announced on August 1 that Israel had killed Mohammed Deif, Hamas's military chief—bringing home the message from Hagari that Sinwar's elimination is paramount.
Sinwar is currently on trial in Israel for the 7 October 2023 attack, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 people into Gaza. Of those, 111 remain as hostages in the Strip, while the bodies of 39 hostages have yet to be returned.
Israeli intelligence estimates have located Sinwar deep inside an underground tunnel system in either the Khan Younis or Rafah areas, circled by Israeli hostages.
Given events from this past week, including the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut on August 1, the Israeli Defense Forces has raised its defense guard against an Iranian response to any such incidents.
He is considering Iran's reaction, but Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that an attack on Israel might result in severe consequences for Iran economically.
Read also | Simla Agreement to be Considered in Kashmir Dispute Resolution: UN
