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Ministry of Defense divided over Sinwar's possible death

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it could neither confirm nor deny reports of the possible death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Among the sources The Jerusalem Post interviewed, one senior source dismissed these notions, another source – who one would expect to have information – said he had no real information on the matter, and still others pointed to disagreements within the defense establishment.

No source mentioned a specific assassination attempt by Israeli forces to kill him.

Rather, part of the debate may revolve around the idea that he has lost contact with his intermediaries responsible for hostage negotiations and intelligence transmission – and for a longer period of time than usual.

It is also possible that some Israeli officials are trying to use psychological warfare against mid-level Hamas commanders to persuade them to enter into immunity agreements in return for releasing the Israeli hostages in their custody.

Palestinian Hamas fighters take part in a rally marking the 35th anniversary of Hamas' founding in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip December 14, 2022. (Source: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)

The reports circulated late Sunday evening.

In December, numerous reports emerged that Sinwar was dead or wounded, had fled to Sinai, or was otherwise cut off from his network and no longer in command.

It later emerged that he had simply gone into hiding to cut off contact, or that all the rumors were psychological warfare designed to make Hamas back down after Khan Yunis fell to Israeli forces.



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