In a recent development, Israel has asserted that Hamas is contemplating a change in leadership within the Gaza Strip, specifically looking at replacing Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar. The move comes in the aftermath of a series of defeats suffered by Hamas in the Khan Younis region of the Gaza Strip and the prolonged silence from Sinwar, who orchestrated the October 7 attacks.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant made the revelation on Sunday, stating that Hamas’ leadership abroad has lost confidence in those deployed in Gaza. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) played a significant role in this, destroying Hamas battalions in Khan Younis.
“Hamas does not trust its commanders; this is a very, very noticeable thing. The Hamas-Gaza station does not answer; there is no one to talk to as leadership on the ground. That means there is a tender for who will manage Gaza,” Gallant remarked, as reported by the Times of Israel.
A separate report from Israeli Channel 12 disclosed that Yahya Sinwar has been out of contact with the terror group for weeks. The reasons behind Sinwar’s unavailability remain unclear, with possibilities ranging from being on the run to the impact of communication blackouts across Gaza. Hamas has not provided information on Sinwar’s whereabouts or addressed the allegations made by Gallant. Sinwar continues to evade the IDF, who have pledged to apprehend him.
The IDF previously claimed to have isolated Sinwar in northern Gaza in November, but he managed to escape using the extensive tunnel system. The IDF released footage of Sinwar fleeing through the tunnels with his family shortly after the October 7 attacks. Attempts to locate him in Khan Younis in December were unsuccessful, with IDF facing resistance from Hamas terrorists during the raids.
Israeli Defence Minister Gallant emphasized that there are no more places for Sinwar to escape to, as Israeli forces prepare for the siege of Rafah, currently Gaza’s most populous city housing over 1.4 million refugees.
“Hamas is left with marginal forces in the central camps and with the Rafah Brigade, and what stands between them and a complete collapse as a military system is a decision by the IDF. There is no one here to come to their aid, no Iranians, no international aid,” Gallant stated, underscoring the dwindling strength of Hamas’ once 24-strong battalions, reduced to just six – two in central Gaza and four in Rafah. The hunt for Sinwar, declared by IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, is set to continue until he is captured, dead or alive.
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