Israel-Hamas war: After hunting Haniyeh, Israel on prowl for Sinwar but there's a catch

Having eliminated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, Israel is on the prowl to hunt his successor Yahya Sinwar. Both the US and Israel have been cooperating for more than 10 months to triangulate Sinwar's position to take him out but it looks like the operation might take a while.

According to a report in The New York Times, citing unnamed officials from both sides, Washington feels the arrangement between the two countries was "very lopsided", with Israel gaining far more than the US was receiving in return.

The White House has reportedly shared information leading to Hamas leaders other than Sinwar, hoping to receive reciprocated Israeli intelligence about remaining American hostages in Hamas captivity but Israel has not been as forthcoming.

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For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, killing Sinwar would help send a message that Hamas' top leadership had been completely wiped out - making it easier for him to end the military campaign in Gaza.

However, the task has been made difficult, especially after Sinwar started using analogue mode of communication. According to the report, at the beginning of the war, Sinwar's communications were conducted electronically but due to scarcity of fuel to power generators, Sinwar was using couriers to evade interception.

The joint Israeli-American intelligence force set up to track Sinwar is still cooperating but with both sides holding their cards tightly, the Hamas chief continues to live a charmed life.

Watch |Hamas chief Haniyeh’s assassination: Iran orders attack on Israel: Report

Who is Sinwar?

Born in Khan Younis in 1962, Sinwar is seen as one of theuncompromising top officials of Hamas. In the early 1980s, Sinwar was repeatedly arrested by Israel because of his involvement in anti-occupation activism held at the Islamic University in Gaza.

After completing his graduation, Sinwar set up a network of fighters who were trained for armed resistance against Israel. Later, this group became the well-known Qassam Brigades, which is the military wing of Hamas.

Alongside now-killed Mohammed Deif, the head ofQassam Brigades, Sinwar planned the October 7 attacks, whose foundations were set in place after IDF carried out a raid on Al Aqsa mosque in May 2021.

In the 23 years he spent in Israel's jail, Sinwar learnt Hebrew and also got well-versed in Israel's political affairs. In 2011, he was released as part of the prisoner exchange deal in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released from Hamas.

(With inputs from agencies)