Yahya Sinwar – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com israelhayom english website Sun, 19 Oct 2025 06:45:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.israelhayom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-G_rTskDu_400x400-32x32.jpg Yahya Sinwar – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com 32 32 Hamas says Israel Hayom profile piece part of spy probe https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/19/hamas-says-israel-hayom-profile-piece-part-of-spy-probe/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/19/hamas-says-israel-hayom-profile-piece-part-of-spy-probe/#respond Sun, 19 Oct 2025 03:34:19 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1096227 Senior Hamas official Mohammed Nazal was interviewed overnight Saturday on the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera, where he addressed the profile article Israel Hayom published in on Tawfiq Abu Naim – a senior terrorist organization official in Gaza who could contend for its leadership the day after the war. "Brother Tawfiq Abu Naim was a great fighter […]

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Senior Hamas official Mohammed Nazal was interviewed overnight Saturday on the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera, where he addressed the profile article Israel Hayom published in on Tawfiq Abu Naim – a senior terrorist organization official in Gaza who could contend for its leadership the day after the war.

"Brother Tawfiq Abu Naim was a great fighter in the prisons of (Israel) for a lengthy period," Nazal responded to the host's query, "following his release and return to the Gaza Strip, he was appointed to formal positions (in Hamas) and demonstrated substantial capabilities in them. I believe that this report is an intelligence report intended to try and test the waters, and to attempt to glean any information about Brother Tawfiq Abu Naim. This is because since October 7, 2023, brother Tawfiq Abu Naim has not appeared publicly at all and (Israel) possesses no information about him, save for contradictory intelligence. They therefore wish, sometimes through specific news items, to test the waters."

Video: Hamas speaking on Israel Hayom / Social media

The senior Hamas official operating abroad, speaking from his location in Turkey, asserted that the article's objective was apparently to gather reactions to the report: "Personally, I do not know where Brother Tawfiq Abu Naim is, where he is currently, or what his status and condition is. This is because from the start of the war until now, I have received no information concerning him. The final point I wish to make is that the Hamas movement, when selecting its leadership – it chooses them through an election process, even within the Gaza Strip."

He added, "The posts are filled according to internal mechanisms, and during the war all posts were filled. Mohammed Sinwar died and was succeeded by Brother Ez A-Din Al-Hadad as commander of the Ez A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing; S.K.). The posts are filled via mechanisms that are recognized internally. Consequently, if the Hamas movement seeks to fill specific posts or elect a particular leader, then it will elect him through the election mechanisms. This is my comment concerning the report on Tawfiq Abu Naim."

The article examined the background of Abu Naim – a confidant of Yahya Sinwar who was imprisoned with him for two decades. After two years of war and the elimination of many of his partners, Abu Naim is well-positioned to become the new leader of the terrorist organization in Gaza. With his experience in senior roles within the Hamas government and his connections to Egyptian intelligence, he may, apparently, integrate into the post-war agenda. The man who was previously the head of the internal security mechanisms in Gaza, responsible for neutralizing any intelligence breach, is one of the last senior officials who has survived.

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New footage from Sinwar's elimination revealed https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/16/new-footage-from-sinwars-elimination-revealed/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/16/new-footage-from-sinwars-elimination-revealed/#respond Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:40:28 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1095903 The IDF released dramatic new footage from the scene of the elimination of Yahya Sinwar. The video shows an IDF camera entering the completely destroyed building in Rafah through a metal gate. On the shattered staircase, a large hole is visible, apparently caused by an Israeli tank strike just minutes earlier. At the entrance to […]

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The IDF released dramatic new footage from the scene of the elimination of Yahya Sinwar. The video shows an IDF camera entering the completely destroyed building in Rafah through a metal gate. On the shattered staircase, a large hole is visible, apparently caused by an Israeli tank strike just minutes earlier.

At the entrance to the second floor, the camera immediately captures the now-famous orange couch, remembered from the last video of the mastermind of the October 7 massacre while he was still alive. On the floor, amid the rubble, lies the body of Yahya Sinwar, with numerous 200-shekel bills scattered beside him.

Video: New footage of Sinwar's elimination /// IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The elimination occurred when an infantry brigade unit, conducting a sweep of an area in Gaza to clear out terrorists, encountered three armed terrorists. In the ensuing firefight, all three were killed, and one was later identified as Yahya Sinwar.

Yahya Sinwar was the chief architect of the October 7 massacre, in which over 1,200 Israelis were murdered and more than 250 were abducted. The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Sinwar's identity after a DNA test, closing a manhunt that had lasted for over a year.

Sinwar, born in 1962, grew up in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. He was one of the founders of Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and was considered one of the organization's most dangerous figures. In 1988, he was arrested by Israel and sentenced to five life terms for murdering Palestinians he suspected of collaborating with Israel. He was released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal, and quickly rose through Hamas' leadership ranks.

In February 2017, Sinwar was elected Hamas leader in Gaza, and in August 2024, he was appointed head of the organization's political bureau following the elimination of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh. Under his leadership, Hamas became more radicalized and began preparing for a large-scale attack on Israel. Sinwar was known his belief in the utter destruction of Israel.

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'Shooting at point-blank range, slaughtering with a knife': Sinwar's chilling handwritten orders for Oct. 7 revealed https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/12/shooting-at-point-blank-range-slaughtering-with-a-knife-sinwars-chilling-handwritten-orders-for-oct-7-revealed/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/12/shooting-at-point-blank-range-slaughtering-with-a-knife-sinwars-chilling-handwritten-orders-for-oct-7-revealed/#respond Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:00:22 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1094651 The IDF Spokesperson published on Sunday a rare handwritten document by Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, who was eliminated in October last year. The document was discovered during IDF operations in Gaza and exposes the methodical and brutal planning behind the October 7 massacre. The document reveals quotes from 2022 in which […]

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The IDF Spokesperson published on Sunday a rare handwritten document by Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, who was eliminated in October last year. The document was discovered during IDF operations in Gaza and exposes the methodical and brutal planning behind the October 7 massacre. The document reveals quotes from 2022 in which Sinwar provides emphasis and guiding principles for the raid plan into Israel, including details on how to breach the border, control territory, and commit atrocities.

"It is essential that forces perform intensive movements weeks before any red side action, which the enemy considers routine; this will serve as a cover story for the large movement," the mass murderer wrote, explaining the need for sophisticated concealment.

The document details a gradual raid plan of four waves of terrorists, each with predefined maps and targets. According to the captured document, Sinwar estimated the raid would trigger a rapid collapse of Israel's defense line and lead to a multi-arena campaign. Sinwar marked an "opportunity window," and the terrorists were instructed to spread quickly, control key points and prevent any recovery attempt.

Additionally, the document addresses psychological warfare and contained direct instructions for terrorists to commit massacre acts against civilians and soldiers, and to film them in real time. "Care must be taken that images emerge that will cause an outbreak of euphoria, madness and eruption among our people, especially in the West Bank, in the 'interior,' in Jerusalem and throughout our nation. This, to stimulate response to calls that will be made for them to go out and rise up."

Yahya Sinwar's letter (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

It further stated that "simultaneously, they must cause an outbreak of feelings of horror and fear among the enemy. Commanders of the units must be emphasized that they must cause these things intentionally first, film them and broadcast the images as quickly as possible: stepping on soldiers' heads, shooting at point-blank range, slaughtering several with a knife, tank explosions, soldiers kneeling with hands on heads and so forth.

"Events must be planned in advance from which terror images will emerge: several burning car bombs that will explode at an outpost or building and create terrifying destruction, heartbreaking scenes, terrible fire. Five or ten such images will sow mortal fear in them. There must be organization for two or three actions whose purpose is burning an entire neighborhood or kibbutz and so forth. They will pour fuel or diesel from a special tanker, burn the place and broadcast the images."

According to the document, "every brigade commander must have a ready plan for force mobilization, their deployment, communication method with them and their operation according to central instructions from the mechanism commander. The northern brigade's targets must see first and foremost toward the coastline. Gaza brigade's targets must be in a northeast direction up to a certain angle. Central camps' targets must be in a northeast direction with an inclination toward the east. Khan Younis brigade's targets must be toward the east. Rafah brigade's targets must be toward the southeast."

Sinwar warned against the possibility of Israeli recovery, aware of the response that might arrive. "If we are not prepared to exploit the opportunity to the fullest, then the enemy will succeed in controlling the chaos and moving to a counterattack or it will receive assistance from outside, and then the situation will reverse against us in the worst way," he wrote. "Therefore it is essential to be prepared for force flow, attack development, its expansion and reinforcement to the maximum during the first six to ten hours in order to establish solid facts on the ground that will thwart any possibility of counterattack."

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WSJ: Hamas demands return of brothers' bodies in ceasefire deal https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/08/wsj-hamas-demands-return-of-brothers-bodies-in-ceasefire-deal/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/08/wsj-hamas-demands-return-of-brothers-bodies-in-ceasefire-deal/#respond Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:30:58 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1093611 Hamas is demanding the return of the bodies of its senior leaders, Mohammed and Yahya Sinwar, as part of a proposed agreement to end the war with Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The terrorist organization insists on retrieving the remains of the two brothers, who were killed by Israeli forces and whose bodies […]

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Hamas is demanding the return of the bodies of its senior leaders, Mohammed and Yahya Sinwar, as part of a proposed agreement to end the war with Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The terrorist organization insists on retrieving the remains of the two brothers, who were killed by Israeli forces and whose bodies are in Israel's possession, as a condition in the ongoing negotiations. The report, which highlights the obstacles to reaching a deal, says Hamas is pushing to emerge from any agreement without suffering a significant blow to its operational capabilities.

Footage of Muhammad Sinwar, head of the tunnel construction project and brother of Yahya Sinwar, traveling in a tunnel (archive), Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

According to the Journal, some factions within Hamas's military wing in Gaza may reject any potential deal if they deem the terms insufficient in exchange for the hostages held in the Strip. In such a case, those factions might opt to continue low-level guerrilla warfare against Israeli forces operating deep inside Gaza, where they remain vulnerable to attacks.

Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza and one of the masterminds behind the October 7 massacre, was killed in Rafah in October 2024 during a firefight with Israeli troops. After the clash, soldiers recovered his body from the scene.

His brother, Mohammed Sinwar, who succeeded him in a key leadership role, was killed in May 2025 in an Israeli operation that targeted a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis. Israeli forces managed to access the tunnel and retrieve his body.

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2 year anniversary of Oct. 7: Government launches 'Hamas Files' website https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/06/2-year-anniversary-of-oct-7-government-launches-hamas-files-website/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/06/2-year-anniversary-of-oct-7-government-launches-hamas-files-website/#respond Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:05:32 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1093387 Two years after the October 7 massacre, the State of Israel is opening a website documenting the preparations, plans, and instructions from Hamas leaders for the massacre. This marks the first time such a website has gone online, presenting all information related to the massacre in an organized and documented manner. The new website can […]

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Two years after the October 7 massacre, the State of Israel is opening a website documenting the preparations, plans, and instructions from Hamas leaders for the massacre. This marks the first time such a website has gone online, presenting all information related to the massacre in an organized and documented manner.

The new website can be viewed at: https://www.october7files.com/

The website is called "October 7 Files – Organized Evil". Its purpose is to provide a complete picture regarding the background to the massacre, the preparations for it, its horrifying execution, including real-time documentation, and its subsequent implications.

Among other things, it is intended to refute claims by Hamas supporters worldwide that there were no atrocities and that the outbreak of sick and mass violence on that day was supposedly "resistance to Israeli occupation and siege". Additionally, the website shows that the attack on southern communities was an act of premeditated genocide – contrary to the slanders being spread worldwide that Israel is the one perpetrating genocide in Gaza.

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants escort Arbel Yehud to hand her over to a Red Cross team Khan Yunis on January 30, 2025, as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange (Photo: Eyad Baba / AFP) AFP

The website will be promoted on social networks, major websites, and search engines online, particularly in the US and Europe. This is so that those seeking information about the massacre will be exposed to the event as it truly was. The expectation is also that artificial intelligence engines, which read content sites, will draw information from it.

The website was established at the initiative of Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, with funding from the ministry he heads, although this ministry does not manage the advocacy field. Some of the content included on the site is found as physical exhibits at the Intelligence Heritage Center in Glilot and has been digitized. Others were taken from other information sources.

The new website presents, among other things, original documents in Yahya Sinwar's handwriting, along with their English translations. They explicitly state that as many residents as possible should be killed in the south, "to behead and murder heads of families".

The website also presents detailed instructions to terrorists on how to photograph and document the acts and broadcast them live. "Wipe the mobile phone camera lens well from dust before filming. Make sure the phone is charged, and if charging is needed, use the available power battery. Do not answer incoming calls on the SIM card, especially not from unknown numbers. Turn on the phone only moments before starting the mission".

Additionally, the maps used by the terrorists are displayed, the extensive involvement of Gazan "civilians" in the massacre, the use of hospitals, educational institutions, and UN facilities in Gaza as Hamas headquarters and bases, as well as Hamas' use of civilians as human shields and its deliberate harm to Israeli civilians, in violation of the laws of war.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar holds the child of an Al-Qassam Brigades fighter, who was killed in the recent fighting with Israel, with a Kalashnikov rifle in his hand during a rally in Gaza City on May 24, 2021 (Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/ AFP) AFP

"There is no other such website for the State of Israel," says Hadas Mimon, head of senior division – consciousness, at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. "We wanted to show how much planning there was here for the massacre, how much advance investment with detailed and precise preparations, including, for example, a spiritual file for Nukhba terrorists with 'religious permits' to do what they did. It's chilling to see Sinwar's handwritten instructions for carrying out all these things. Here, everything related to the massacre is presented for the first time, in an organized manner from beginning to end".

Mimon hopes that Israel supporters worldwide will draw information from the new website. She also adds that it provides all the evidence showing that Hamas is the one that committed genocide on October 7. "Genocide means deliberately killing innocent civilians as part of a plan and on a mass scale. On the website, we show exactly how they committed genocide. That is, there are written instructions to harm civilians, families, and heads of families, and not just soldiers".

Mimon also notes that artificial intelligence engines draw information from texts and not from videos and photos, and therefore, over time, the website's content will influence how many people worldwide will form their perception of reality regarding the October 7 massacre.

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IDF proves eliminated journalist was a Hamas terrorist https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/11/idf-proves-eliminated-journalist-was-a-terrorist/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/11/idf-proves-eliminated-journalist-was-a-terrorist/#respond Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:45:58 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1079803 The IDF Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, published a photo of eliminated journalist Anas al-Sharif, embracing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Hamas-affiliated media in the Gaza Strip reported Sunday that Anas Jamal al-Sharif, a member of the Hamas terrorist organization who also worked as a correspondent for the Al Jazeera network, had been killed. , […]

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The IDF Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, published a photo of eliminated journalist Anas al-Sharif, embracing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Hamas-affiliated media in the Gaza Strip reported Sunday that Anas Jamal al-Sharif, a member of the Hamas terrorist organization who also worked as a correspondent for the Al Jazeera network, had been killed. , al-Sharif served as the head of a Hamas cell and was involved in planning rocket attacks. Another Gaza-based journalist, Mohammad Karika, was also reported killed in the strike.

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Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The IDF said in a statement that "the military had previously uncovered intelligence and numerous documents found in the Gaza Strip confirming his military affiliation with the Hamas terrorist organization. The documents once again confirm his terrorist activity, which the Al Jazeera network tried to disavow."

Adraee wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter), alongside the photo of al-Sharif with Sinwar: "As we said from the start, and others refused to believe, only a terrorist sits with terrorists. Anas al-Sharif was not a journalist but a Hamas terrorist."

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This is Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas powerbroker rising after Sinwar https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/03/this-is-khalil-al-hayya-the-hamas-powerbroker-rising-after-sinwar/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/08/03/this-is-khalil-al-hayya-the-hamas-powerbroker-rising-after-sinwar/#respond Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:48:13 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1077703 Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya has stirred significant anger across the Arab world in recent days, after calling on citizens of Jordan and Egypt to march toward the Gaza border. But who exactly is he? Before the war, al-Hayya served as deputy to Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. He left the Gaza Strip before […]

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Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya has stirred significant anger across the Arab world in recent days, after calling on citizens of Jordan and Egypt to march toward the Gaza border. But who exactly is he?

Before the war, al-Hayya served as deputy to Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. He left the Gaza Strip before Hamas' October 7 massacre and has since mostly been based in Qatar, though he has also made visits to Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon.

בכיר חמאס ח'ליל אל-חיא , אי.אף.פי
Primarily based in Qatar. Khalil al-Hayya. Photo: AFP

Born in 1960 in the Gaza Strip, al-Hayya joined Hamas during the First Intifada. He was arrested in the early 1990s and served a three-year prison sentence in Israel for involvement in terrorist activity. He later completed a doctorate in Islamic Studies at a university in Sudan, one of the key smuggling hubs in Iran's weapons supply route to Hamas. It was during this period that he began building ties with senior officials in the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He eventually returned to Gaza via Egypt.

During the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, al-Hayya ran on Hamas' list, which won a majority. He was subsequently appointed a member of parliament. About a year later, the parliament was effectively dissolved following Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip and the expulsion of Fatah forces.

Over the years, al-Hayya survived several assassination attempts, some of which killed members of his family. He also participated in numerous Hamas delegations abroad and was elected in internal Hamas elections as a member of the political bureau in Gaza.

יחיא סינוואר , אי.אף.פי
Yahya Sinwar. Appointed al-Hayya as his deputy, largely due to mistrust of Mashaal. Photo: AFP

In 2021, he was appointed deputy to Yahya Sinwar. Since the start of the war in Gaza, al-Hayya has headed Hamas' negotiating team for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. In practice, he has served as Sinwar's representative to Hamas' overseas office, largely due to mistrust toward Khaled Mashaal and other senior Hamas figures in exile.

Eyes political bureau leadership

At the same time, al-Hayya maintained close ties with Tehran and was among the senior Hamas officials who met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His alignment with the Iranian axis was underscored by a recent visit to Syria, where he met with senior Assad regime officials. The trip was part of Hamas' effort to restore ties with Damascus, which were severed after the group supported Syrian rebels during the civil war.

Al-Hayya was lightly wounded in the Israeli assassination strike that killed Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July 2024. Footage released afterward showed him with his leg bandaged.

הנייה וזירת החיסול , אי.אף.פי/רשתות ערביות
Haniyeh and the scene of his assassination in Iran. Photo: AFP

After the IDF eliminated Sinwar in Gaza, al-Hayya was appointed to Hamas' five-member leadership council. He is also acting head of the Gaza bureau, pending a formal vote for the post.

Hamas insiders believe al-Hayya intends to run for the leadership of the political bureau. Until then, he remains the group's main spokesperson for significant public statements.

However, it appears Hamas has chosen to split leadership roles to reduce the risk of Israel eliminating the bureau's head in a single strike.

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Israel's Syrian march of folly https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/18/israels-syrian-march-of-folly/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/18/israels-syrian-march-of-folly/#respond Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:13:10 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1073817 "Jihadist." That's the term Israelis reflexively use for Syria's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani during the Syrian Civil War). The issue is, this label doesn't capture the man's true nature. Reality, it seems, defies simple stereotypes. Back in 2020, Egyptian journalist Dareen Khalifa, residing in Turkey, risked her life to interview […]

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"Jihadist." That's the term Israelis reflexively use for Syria's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani during the Syrian Civil War). The issue is, this label doesn't capture the man's true nature. Reality, it seems, defies simple stereotypes. Back in 2020, Egyptian journalist Dareen Khalifa, residing in Turkey, risked her life to interview al-Julani, when he was still only the head of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham rebel group, in Syria's war zones. Khalifa sought to understand him, noting his life trajectory stood out from his surroundings. Well before leading Syria, al-Julani engaged in fierce conflict with ISIS leaders: He was focused on liberating Syria, while they pursued global jihad. They even attempted his assassination. He later distanced himself from al-Qaida, though the move was largely symbolic. "You could say he's a Syrian patriot. Based on his history and statements, he's not part of global jihad and even opposes it," Khalifa concluded after lengthy discussions with him. She shared this with me in a November 2024 phone call, shortly after he ousted Bashar Assad in a surprise move.

Israeli Druze at the border with Syria on Wednesday July 17, 2025 (JINI/Ayal Margolin)

The past eight months have validated her view. As Syria's president, al-Julani, now Ahmed al-Sharaa, pursued a wide array of actions signaling his commitment to rebuilding Syria and fostering peace with Israel. He repeatedly affirmed this stance and avoided any military or rhetorical threats against Israel – quite the contrary. Last week, Syria initiated the naturalization of thousands of "Palestinian refugees" residing there since 1948, effectively challenging the Arab narrative of "the right of return." Could Israel ask for more? Would Yahya Sinwar have done this? Al-Sharaa made it clear countless times he has no intention of fighting Israel. He blocked Iranian weapons shipments across his borders, stayed silent on the IDF's seizure of Mount Hermon's peak and other sovereign Syrian territories, made no claims on the Golan Heights, and engaged in talks aimed at normalizing ties with Israel, per foreign reports.

The world isn't waiting

Highly serious proposals were laid out. Discreet negotiations occurred behind the scenes. Just a week ago in Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team spoke of Syria as a potential peace partner before Saudi Arabia, even as the Gaza war persists. I was present. Optimism was palpable. Why should Israel pursue peace with Syria? First, peace trumps war. Second, Syria requires economic, energy, technological, agricultural, and diplomatic support – areas where Israel can assist, binding Syria to us through mutual interests that prevent future hostility. This dynamic has held with Jordan and Egypt for decades. Third, drawing Syria closer to Israel could curb its ties with problematic players like Qatar and Turkey – and al-Sharaa has shown he can break from patrons when his interests shift. Fourth, the world moves on. Three months ago, I wrote in Israel Hayom that "in the Arab world, the West, Turkey, and America, enough players stand to gain from absolving al-Sharaa's past in exchange for his proper conduct moving forward. It's unlikely the world will pause just because Israel objects." That's precisely what transpired. Even Donald J Trump, history's most pro-Israel president, met al-Sharaa and removed sanctions from Syria. He didn't wait for Israel, and sometimes wisdom outweighs being right.

But what did we do? Right after Assad's regime fell, Israel pulled off one of its most brilliant moves, capitalizing on the moment to dismantle the Syrian military. Our forces then swiftly and boldly took Mount Hermon's peak and other key areas. It was a masterful opportunity seized, partly paving the way for strikes on Iran's nuclear sites – planning for which started then. Truly commendable. Yet, Israel failed to grasp that Ahmed al-Sharaa is not Yahya Sinwar. His actions since November 2024 prove it, aligning with his earlier claims of regretting his ISIS affiliation. Recently, he toured Damascus publicly with his wife, defying extremist Islamic norms. Al-Sharaa pledged religious freedom for all Syrian communities, including reopening Damascus's ancient synagogue. However, he did establish "Sharia" as Syria's binding law.

Video: Hundreds of Druze have crossed the border fence in Majdal Shams

Yes, it's imperfect. His army – essentially militias – sometimes acts brutally. His and his followers' history includes talk of "conquering Jerusalem." Terror groups opposing his relatively moderate stance seek to destabilize his rule. There's much to refine, and he acknowledges it. We must keep watching him. But on the key question – is al-Sharaa a figure to cultivate and guide or an irredeemable jihadist to eliminate? – all evidence supports the former.

Israel's mistaken initiative

Israel overlooked these nuances. Despite al-Sharaa's steady and clear approach, our policy toward him has been erratic. For months, we labeled him a "terrorist in a suit" to the world. Recently, we shifted, treating him as a potential peace partner. Then, after disturbing scenes from Sweida, we reverted to calling him a terrorist. Clearly, we don't grasp who he is.

Israel's errors don't stop there. Neither the IDF nor diplomatic officials recognized the limits of power. Seizing strategic Syrian territories is great. Setting a demilitarized zone south of Damascus is somewhat defensible. But promising to protect Druze 62 miles from the border? How? Anyone sensible knew we couldn't deliver. Moreover, Salah Tarif, a former minister and Druze leader, said they never asked Israel to protect their Syrian brethren. It was Israel's idea.

Video: The moment of the strike near the Syrian military general staff building, as broadcast on Syrian state television // Arab networks

This was a flawed initiative. Not only do we have our own troubles, but there's no way to emerge unscathed from Syria's inter- and intra-communal conflicts. Current reports suggest the recent Bedouin-Druze clash in Jabal al-Druze stemmed from a Druze kidnapping. Should we have preemptively guaranteed such provocations? Absolutely not. Plus, Syrian Druze opinions on the new regime vary – many leaders want to work with al-Sharaa. Why interfere? The Druze tradition is loyalty to their sovereign state, which is why Israel's Druze community sacrifices immensely for us. Jewish society could learn from them.

Syria's security forces enter the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on July 15, 2025, following clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters (Sam HARIRI / AFP) Sam HARIRI / AFP

Regarding Syria's Druze, the best approach was letting them negotiate with al-Sharaa. What have we gained by driving a wedge? Nothing – we only lost. Our overly aggressive policy pushed Syria's president to hint at war with Israel for the first time last night. After we needlessly destroyed his general staff and bombed his palace, we gave him no choice. We handed him a dictator's dream: An external enemy to rally against.

What's the average Syrian likely thinking now? "Thanks to Israel, we ousted Assad. But it seems Israel is indeed the forceful, violent state they say it is. Why did it shut down Syrian TV broadcasts yesterday?"

If there were any proof al-Sharaa sent forces to kill Druze, Israel's actions might have been justified. But there's none. Evidence suggests he sent forces south to Jabal al-Druze to halt the Bedouin-Druze clash – doing what a central government should in a fractured nation. Yet Israel bombed his forces while demanding he protect the Druze. How can he do that if we humiliate him before his people and strip his means?

Resetting the policy

The bottom line: Israel is undermining its own security and diplomatic interests. Since taking office until last night, al-Sharaa extended a hand for peace. We rejected it. That's the harsh truth. It's not too late. If Jerusalem has leadership, it must regroup and reset policy. Tell al-Sharaa we won't tolerate a Druze massacre, but also tell the Druze they must coexist with Damascus's regime. We can't ensure their safety.

Smoke rises from what was believed to be an Israeli strike on July 14, 2025 near Sweida, Syria, to protect the Druze (Getty Images)

Simultaneously, Israel must curb its use of force against Syria. When there's a security threat, we must act. But as long as al-Sharaa avoids anti-Israel actions – and he has for eight months – we shouldn't push him to become our foe. Israel's interest lies in a stable Syrian government. Chaos only benefits Iran and terror groups. Moreover, smart diplomacy can draw al-Sharaa closer, setting him on a path to normalization with Israel. But that requires acting from reason, not instinct.

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Israel estimates that Sinwar was eliminated https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/14/israel-estimates-that-sinwar-was-eliminated/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/14/israel-estimates-that-sinwar-was-eliminated/#respond Wed, 14 May 2025 06:49:12 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1058193 The day after the assassination attempt: Israeli officials increasingly believe that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was killed on Tuesday. There is also growing speculation that his death could accelerate a hostage deal based on the Witkoff framework in the coming days. However, officials stress that, as in the case of Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, […]

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The day after the assassination attempt: Israeli officials increasingly believe that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was killed on Tuesday. There is also growing speculation that his death could accelerate a hostage deal based on the Witkoff framework in the coming days. However, officials stress that, as in the case of Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, final confirmation may take several days or even weeks.

Israel is treading carefully when it comes to declaring Sinwar dead, given past experiences during this war and others. There have been numerous instances in which senior operatives were reported killed, only for them to resurface later. Hamas, for its part, is doing everything it can to obscure the outcome of the strike.

The site of the assassination attempt on Mohammed Sinwar. Photo: AP

On Tuesday night, the IDF and the Shin Bet security agency carried out a targeted strike against Hamas terrorists operating in a command and control center located within underground infrastructure beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. The intended target was Mohammed Sinwar, Yahya Sinwar's brother.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets launched dozens of munitions simultaneously at the underground compound where Mohammed Sinwar was believed to be located. The attack was a complex operation, with the goal of eliminating anyone in the underground facility. This method mirrors previous high-level assassinations, most notably that of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In such strikes, the high volume of firepower is designed to ensure that anyone in the tunnels is either killed by the explosion or suffocated by the ensuing smoke and gases.

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Inside the hunt: New exclusive footage shows how IDF cornered Sinwar https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/03/23/inside-the-hunt-new-footage-shows-how-idf-cornered-sinwar/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/03/23/inside-the-hunt-new-footage-shows-how-idf-cornered-sinwar/#respond Sun, 23 Mar 2025 07:00:58 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1045769   A video obtained by Israel Hayom shows Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza sitting wounded and exhausted on a couch in a house in Rafah, where he was eliminated by IDF forces on October 16, 2024. The video, filmed by soldiers from Battalion 450, is being published here for the first time, alongside an […]

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A video obtained by Israel Hayom shows Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza sitting wounded and exhausted on a couch in a house in Rafah, where he was eliminated by IDF forces on October 16, 2024. The video, filmed by soldiers from Battalion 450, is being published here for the first time, alongside an interview in which they describe how they killed the architect of the October 7 attack.

The 37-second video was filmed at the end of a pursuit, during which Battalion 450 soldiers captured Sinwar in a building that received the nickname "Red House." Sinwar was equipped with a Kalashnikov, a combat vest, and hand grenades, and was wounded in his right arm after being shot by IDF forces shortly before.

Sinwar threw two fragmentation grenades at a force commanded by Major Hod Schreibman, and immediately afterward tanks began firing at the building where he was staying. Schreibman would be killed several months later during fighting in Jabaliya, while leading his soldiers from the front.

Yahya Sinwar in underground tunnel in Gaza (Screenshot: IDF Spokespersons Unit)

"The tank fires, there's a lot of smoke, and then we send the drone into the house," recounts Staff Sergeant A, Schreibman's radio operator. "We identify a figure with a combat vest, hiding near a window, sitting on the floor, and starting to throw stones at the drone." The footage from this historic drone flight, the first in which Sinwar was seen, was lost forever. "We forgot to press the recording button," A admits sheepishly.

After additional tank fire on the building, the drone entered the house again. This time, the operator remembered to press the recording button. In the video from that sortie, which we are revealing for the first time, Sinwar can be seen sitting on a couch, tucked inside an alcove. He appears to be groaning in pain and completely exhausted. He doesn't attempt to shoot at the drone or throw objects at it.

After the second drone flight, forces fired more shells at the house, and then the drone was sent inside for the third time. This time, the famous video was filmed, in which Sinwar can be seen throwing a stick at the drone. A few minutes later, he was buried under the house's rubble, after additional tank fire.

Video: Last Moments of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Credit: IDF Spokespersons Unit

The mistaken narrative

Only the next day would Battalion 450 fighters discover that the terrorist they killed in the "Red House" was Yahya Sinwar. "At that moment, I was mainly thinking about the bereaved families and the hostages," says Lieutenant Colonel R, the battalion commander. "I said to myself, 'This is the planner of everything, this is evil incarnate, and we killed him.'"

Due to the circumstances of his death, a narrative took hold suggesting that Sinwar was eliminated by chance, after Battalion 450 randomly encountered him among the ruins of Rafah and killed him without even knowing who he was. This narrative, it turns out, is far from accurate.

Sinwar wasn't killed in a "fluke." True, Hamas's strongman was eliminated thanks to a fair bit of luck, but his death was the result of a determined and sophisticated hunt that invested considerable resources and included groundbreaking combat methods.

Only because of all these factors was the dramatic final scene of his life made possible, inside the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah where he ended up, and where he was forced to leave the safety of the tunnels and come above ground, becoming easy prey. "Sinwar had been on the run for a very long time," the battalion commander R puts it. "We just had the privilege of catching him during our shift."

Based on conversations with Battalion 450 fighters and additional sources in the IDF and Shin Bet, the siege on Sinwar started the moment the war broke out, through the underground pursuit after him in Khan Yunis, until his death in Rafah a year later. This is how the hunt proceeded for the man who forever changed the face of the Middle East.

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