Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, is probably alive and living in a tunnel in Gaza. Brett McGurk, the White House’s Middle East and North Africa coordinator, made the announcement on a High Holidays call with rabbis on Wednesday afternoon.
“Yahia Sinwar is still the decision maker,” McGurk said. We believe he is still alive, and living in the tunnels of Gaza. He is holding hostages and probably hostages are close to him.’
Earlier this week, Israeli media reported that Sinwar had resumed contact with mediators.
However, a senior Qatari diplomat recently told The Jerusalem Post that the communication was false. Their contact is senior Hamas leader political figure Khalil al-Haya.
It is said that mediation efforts are conducted through the Doha office of Hamas. He said it was done through representatives of the political office of Hamas in Doha.
Qatari officials have previously said they believe Sinwar surrounded himself with hostages before going into hiding.
