Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was reported by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed to have emerged from underground tunnels to meet with members of Hamas above ground. This appearance comes amidst ongoing conflicts and is said to reflect Sinwar’s active leadership and direct engagement with the situation on the ground.

According to a senior Hamas source, Sinwar inspected clash zones between Hamas fighters and the IDF, contradicting reports of his isolation within the tunnels. The source criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing him of spreading misinformation about Sinwar’s whereabouts to distract from his own failures.

The same source refuted claims that Hamas had lowered its demands concerning the number of hostages it is willing to release in negotiations. Despite challenges in confirming the exact number of hostages, the source asserted that the figure is higher than some reports suggest, with about 30 IDF and Shin Bet officers claimed to be held in highly secure locations.

This report has been met with varied reactions, including from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which sees Sinwar’s public appearance as an indication of Israeli strategic failures. Former Shin Bet officer Micah Kobi expressed skepticism, suggesting that Hamas’s announcement might be a strategic misdirection intended to confuse and distract from impending military actions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)