Hamas leader says ‘we have Israelis where we want them to be’ in leaked messages, WSJ reports

CNN
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Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar said the Palestinian militant group has the upper hand over Israel in the Gaza war, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing leaked messages the newspaper said it had seen.

“We have the Israelis where we want them,” Sinwar recently told Hamas political leaders in Qatar, according to one of the messages, the WSJ reported Monday. The date of the message is unclear but suggests that Sinwar is pushing for the war to continue.

The WSJ said it reviewed dozens of messages sent to ceasefire negotiators from Sinwar, who has been in hiding since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked a devastating war in Gaza, killing more than 37,000 people in the enclave, according to Gaza health authorities. and leaving much of the band destroyed.

The WSJ reported that in a message, Sinwar said civilian deaths in previous conflicts were “necessary sacrifices,” citing past wars of independence in countries like Algeria.

As Israel prepares to enter Rafah ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan in February, the WSJ said Sinwar urged Hamas political leaders not to make concessions and instead push for a definitive end to the war .

“Israel’s trip to Rafah will not be a walk in the park,” Sinwar reportedly said in a message to Hamas political leaders.

CNN has not seen the messages leaked by the WSJ and is unable to confirm the authenticity of the communications.

Commenting on the WSJ report, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on of Israel to eliminate its terrorist organization.

Mediators are awaiting a response from Hamas to an Israeli proposal presented last month by President Joe Biden – which aims to free hostages in Gaza and implement a ceasefire there.

As the United States pushes those with influence over Hamas to pressure the group into accepting the deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also made clear that the United States believes that the group’s leader, Sinwar, was the ultimate decision-maker.

“I think there are those who have influenced, but influence is one thing, making a decision is another. I don’t think anyone other than the Hamas leadership in Gaza is really capable of making decisions,” Blinken said, adding that “that’s what we expect.”

Blinken said Hamas’ response to the proposal would reveal the group’s priorities.

“We’re waiting for Hamas’ response and that will say a lot about what they want, what they’re looking for, who they’re looking after,” Blinken said. “Are they taking care of a guy who might be safe for now… I don’t know, 10 stories underground somewhere in Gaza, while the people he claims to represent continue to suffer in the crossfire on his own initiative? Or will he do what is necessary to actually move the situation to a better place, to help end people’s suffering and to help bring real security to both Israelis and Palestinians.

In initial messages to ceasefire negotiators, Sinwar seemed “surprised” by the brutality of the October 7 attack on Israel.

“Things have gotten out of control,” Sinwar said in one of his messages, according to the WSJ, adding that he was “referring to gangs taking civilian women and children hostage.”

“People got caught up in this, and it shouldn’t have happened,” Sinwar said, according to the WSJ.

The US-designated terrorist also expressed his displeasure after not being consulted for a meeting between the political leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, calling the meeting “shameful and scandalous.”

“As long as the fighters are still standing and we have not lost the war, these contacts must stop immediately,” he said, adding that “we have the capabilities to continue fighting for months.”

He had also compared the war in Gaza to a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq, a monumental moment in Islamic history where the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson was killed.

“We must move forward on the same path we started,” Sinwar reportedly wrote. “Or let it be a new Karbala.”

His comments came as 14 of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of the resolution proposed by the United States on Monday, with only Russia abstaining – the first time the Council approves such a plan to end the war. Israel is not a member of the UN Security Council and therefore did not vote.

The three-step comprehensive peace agreement, which sets out conditions leading to the eventual release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, was presented publicly for the first time by US President Biden on May 31.

The historic vote means the UN Security Council now joins other major world bodies in supporting the plan, increasing international pressure on Hamas and Israel to end the conflict.

Hamas welcomed the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution, saying it was ready to engage with mediators to implement measures such as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the exchange of prisoners , the return of residents to their homes and the “rejection of any change or demographic change”. reduction of the area of ​​the Gaza Strip.

The resolution says Israel agreed to the plan, and U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed that Israel agreed to the proposal — despite other public comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting otherwise.