US Steps Up Hunt for Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Amid Ongoing Middle East Conflict

The United States has significantly escalated its efforts to locate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attack, in an attempt to avert a more significant Middle East conflict.

According to reports from the New York Times, the US has not only assisted Israeli forces in intercepting Sinwar’s communications but has also deployed ground-penetrating radars to map Gaza’s extensive tunnel network where Sinwar is suspected to be hiding.

A special unit has been created within Israel’s Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence service, to aid in the search.

An Israeli official described the American support and intelligence resources as “priceless,” emphasizing the deep level of cooperation between Israeli and American teams working on the case.

Despite these efforts, Sinwar has managed to evade capture. Since the assassination of former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Sinwar, who took over the organization, has been particularly elusive. Reports indicate that he has even resorted to disguises, such as hiding among Palestinians dressed as a woman, to avoid detection.

Capturing or killing Sinwar is seen as potentially pivotal in the ongoing conflict, offering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a significant military victory and possibly influencing his decisions regarding the Gaza operation.

However, recent communication with Sinwar has become increasingly difficult, with the leader reportedly abandoning electronic communications in favour of using human couriers.

The hunt for Sinwar has faced delays and frustrations, compounded by ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Egypt, which have yet to show much progress.

The primary issues in the talks include Israel’s demand to maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor, used for smuggling weapons into Gaza, and to impose checks on movements within Gaza to prevent armed fighters from relocating.

Both Hamas and Israel have exchanged blame for the stalled negotiations, which are aimed at halting the fighting and negotiating an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Sola Adeniji

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