In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, a senior Biden administration official declared on Thursday that the days of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar are “numbered.”
The announcement came during a press briefing on the meetings of U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Israel, marking the first time a high-ranking U.S. official has publicly discussed Sinwar in such stark terms.
Israeli leaders have previously referred to Sinwar as “a dead man walking,” and the senior administration official reinforced this sentiment, emphasizing that justice would be served regardless of the time it takes.
The ominous statement underscored Sinwar’s alleged involvement in an October 7 terror onslaught, which claimed the lives of 38 Americans and resulted in the capture of approximately 135 hostages in Gaza.
Sinwar, currently believed to be in hiding in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, reportedly fled from the north of the Strip by concealing himself in a humanitarian convoy during the early stages of Hamas’s conflict with Israel.
Recent reports indicate that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have surrounded Sinwar’s home in Khan Younis, although his actual residence remains elusive.
Amidst the escalating tensions, the IDF is said to have placed a bounty on Sinwar’s head, with social media circulating images of fliers offering up to $400,000 for information leading to his capture.
The authenticity of these fliers remains unconfirmed, but they included a telephone number and a contact on the Telegram messaging app, promising confidentiality to potential informants.
Yahya Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas in Gaza in 2017, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh. Currently residing in Qatar, Haniyeh serves as the chair of Hamas’s political bureau.
Sinwar, however, has a history with Israel, having been sentenced to four life sentences in 1989 for planning the abduction and murder of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians.
He was released 22 years later as part of the deal brokered for the return of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
The current accusations against Sinwar involve overseeing the preparations and planning of the October 7 onslaught, in which thousands of Hamas-led terrorists infiltrated Israel from land, air, and sea, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the seizure of numerous hostages.
In response to this unprecedented attack, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas from Gaza and end their 16-year rule, initiating both aerial and ground operations.
As tensions continue to mount, the international community watches closely, awaiting further developments in the complex and volatile situation in the Middle East.
The U.S. administration’s strong language and Israel’s persistent pursuit of Sinwar underscore the gravity of the allegations against the Hamas leader, raising questions about the potential implications for regional stability and the ongoing conflict in the area.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members