Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Admits to Using Civilian Deaths as “Necessary Sacrifices” in War Against Israel

Hamas’ top official in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has admitted that he views the deaths of Palestinian civilians as “necessary sacrifices” to sustain the conflict with Israel.

This admission comes from disturbing leaked messages cited in a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ top official in Gaza, said he views the deaths of Palestinians as “necessary sacrifices.” AP

Sinwar, who played a significant role in orchestrating the October 7 terrorist attack, expressed pride in his efforts to delay cease-fire talks despite increasing international criticism of Israel over the rising Palestinian death toll, which has surpassed 37,000.

“We have the Israelis right where we want them,” Sinwar wrote in a message to Hamas officials during negotiations with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. In numerous messages reviewed by the WSJ, Sinwar demonstrates a cold and calculated approach, showing little concern for Palestinian casualties as long as Israel suffers more significant losses.

In a particularly chilling exchange, Sinwar told Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, that the deaths of Haniyeh’s three sons in an Israeli airstrike would “infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honour.”

Mourners gather around the bodies of civilians caught in an Israeli airstrike on June 6. AFP via Getty Images

The leaked messages also reveal that Sinwar, despite his long-standing fight against Israel, was reportedly shocked by the extreme brutality of the October 7 attack, which left over 1,200 people dead and resulted in the kidnapping of more than 250 individuals. “Things went out of control,” he said, referring to the abduction of women and children, which he claimed should not have occurred.

A Palestinian woman threw herself on top of the body of her relative killed in an airstrike on Monday. AP

Despite Israel’s extensive military response, which has significantly weakened Hamas’ forces in Gaza, Sinwar remains resolute in prolonging the conflict. He has advised against any compromise, emphasizing that cease-fire discussions should cease as long as Hamas fighters remain active. “We can continue fighting for months,” he stated.

Sinwar has remained in hiding but claims he would gladly die in the fight against the Jewish state. AP

Sinwar’s stance has influenced Hamas negotiators, leading to repeated rejections of cease-fire agreements that previously met their demands. In his most recent messages, Sinwar reiterated his commitment to the ongoing conflict, even at the risk of his own life. “We have to move forward on the same path we started,” he wrote, likening the struggle to the historic Battle of Karbala.

Yahya Sinwar, who was detained by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in 1988 and released in a 2011 prisoner exchange, ascended to his current position as Hamas’ top official in Gaza in 2017.