After 10 months of war, Hamas chief Sinwar still evading Israeli forces

[Grim Reaper 6]

Since Hamas’s massacre in southern Israel on October 7, Yahya Sinwar has been at the top of Israel’s most wanted list, but the newly appointed chief of the Palestinian terror group has remained as elusive as ever.

Israeli commanders believe Sinwar, 61, is hiding in a labyrinthine maze of tunnels that Hamas has built under the Gaza Strip over the years, possibly in Khan Younis or Rafah.

In December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the army had surrounded Sinwar’s house, but since then there has been little to no information on his whereabouts..

“I am quite sure that there are lots of places that he can hide, and he has a lot of men around him that are really loyal to him and support him,” he added..

https://www-timesofisrael-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.timesofisrael.com/after-10-months-of-war-hamas-chief-sinwar-still-evading-israeli-forces/amp/?amp_js_v=0.1&amp_gsa=1#webview=1&cap=swipe

[+and-then]

"While some claim he has left Gaza, most experts on Hamas reject that idea. “He is not afraid to die, said Guy Aviad, an Israeli military historian."

This pretty much sums up the long term problem with Hamas in general.  They are religious fanatics and while some may surrender, most never will.  This war is reduced to a battle of wills and Israelis have to fight not only these demons in Gaza and the "west bank", they also have to fight global, Jew-hating media corporations and the huge number of UN nations that want Israel destroyed.  Sinwar will eventually die from IDF ordnance.  It's just a matter of time.  Even if he makes a deal to release the hostages in return for allowing him to go into some kind of exile, they'll still kill him, sooner or later.

[Unusual Tournament]

12 minutes ago, and-then said:

"While some claim he has left Gaza, most experts on Hamas reject that idea. “He is not afraid to die, said Guy Aviad, an Israeli military historian."

This pretty much sums up the long term problem with Hamas in general.  They are religious fanatics and while some may surrender, most never will.  This war is reduced to a battle of wills and Israelis have to fight not only these demons in Gaza and the "west bank", they also have to fight global, Jew-hating media corporations and the huge number of UN nations that want Israel destroyed.  Sinwar will eventually die from IDF ordnance.  It's just a matter of time.  Even if he makes a deal to release the hostages in return for allowing him to go into some kind of exile, they'll still kill him, sooner or later.

Well he’d be a fool to be still in Gaza. Unlike his well groomed suit wearing predecessor Haniyeh, Sinwar seems to be a more hands on and practical guy with the need for fewer creature comforts and thus harder to find

[Grim Reaper 6]

18 minutes ago, and-then said:

"While some claim he has left Gaza, most experts on Hamas reject that idea. “He is not afraid to die, said Guy Aviad, an Israeli military historian."

This pretty much sums up the long term problem with Hamas in general.  They are religious fanatics and while some may surrender, most never will.  This war is reduced to a battle of wills and Israelis have to fight not only these demons in Gaza and the "west bank", they also have to fight global, Jew-hating media corporations and the huge number of UN nations that want Israel destroyed.  Sinwar will eventually die from IDF ordnance.  It's just a matter of time.  Even if he makes a deal to release the hostages in return for allowing him to go into some kind of exile, they'll still kill him, sooner or later.

I certainly hope they get the b****** that would be poetic justice and karma!

[Grim Reaper 6]

2 minutes ago, Unusual Tournament said:

Well he’d be a fool to be still in Gaza. Unlike his well groomed suit wearing predecessor Haniyeh, Sinwar seems to be a more hands on and practical guy with the need for fewer creature comforts and thus harder to find

The odds appear to be very good that he is still located in Gaza according to the IDF. I think he became trapped when the Israeli offensive began, but who knows, however time will certainly tell.

[Unusual Tournament]

1 minute ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

The odds appear to be very good that he is still located in Gaza according to the IDF. I think he became trapped when the Israeli offensive began, but who knows, however time will certainly tell.

With Hamas leadership and middle management in disarray and Iran and Co owning the Hamas struggle Sinwar effectively has no real reason to show his ugly mug. What does it matter where he is. Safety would suggest he leave for Turkey. Erdogan is probably the only player capable of protecting him at this stage

[Grim Reaper 6]

28 minutes ago, Unusual Tournament said:

With Hamas leadership and middle management in disarray and Iran and Co owning the Hamas struggle Sinwar effectively has no real reason to show his ugly mug. What does it matter where he is. Safety would suggest he leave for Turkey. Erdogan is probably the only player capable of protecting him at this stage

Heading to Turkey will not save him if the Israelis can find his location. Israel isn’t afraid of Erdogan at all, and Turkish forces are nothing Israel has not faced in past conflicts. Plus, Erdogan does actually attack Israel other NATO Countries will side with Israel over Turkey, Turkey needs to be kicked out of NATO, even though many thinks it’s  a bad idea in my opinion keeping them around is a bigger security threats than kicking them to the curb!

Can Turkey be Expelled from NATO? It’s Legally Possible, Whether or Not Politically Prudent: https://www.justsecurity.org/66574/can-turkey-be-expelled-from-nato/

[+and-then]

3 hours ago, Unusual Tournament said:

Well he’d be a fool to be still in Gaza. Unlike his well groomed suit wearing predecessor Haniyeh, Sinwar seems to be a more hands on and practical guy with the need for fewer creature comforts and thus harder to find

Who knows?  He definitely had many opportunities early in the war to escape through Egypt.  It's probably a lot more difficult now that Israel controls that border but it isn't impossible.

[+and-then]

3 hours ago, Unusual Tournament said:

With Hamas leadership and middle management in disarray and Iran and Co owning the Hamas struggle Sinwar effectively has no real reason to show his ugly mug. What does it matter where he is. Safety would suggest he leave for Turkey. Erdogan is probably the only player capable of protecting him at this stage

With the tensions between Netanyahu and Biden, Turkey may not be as safe a locale for him as it once was.  If Erdog made the mistake of actually trying to send troops into Israel, I think Turkey's time in NATO will be over.

[Claira]

17 hours ago, and-then said:

Even if he makes a deal to release the hostages in return for allowing him to go into some kind of exile, they'll still kill him, sooner or later.

Of that we can all be certain.

[+and-then]

2 hours ago, Claira said:

Of that we can all be certain.

Yes, indeed.  Welcome to UM!