“Yahya Sinwar’s Body: A Key Negotiation Tool for Israel in Hostage Deals”
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Israel might keep the body of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
According to Israeli officials, after Sinwar’s death, negotiations regarding the hostage deal have shifted to Hamas’s leadership outside the Gaza Strip, increasing the chances of reaching an agreement and enhancing the effectiveness of the pressure that mediators might apply to finalize the deal.
The Assassination of Yahya Sinwar and Netanyahu’s Remarks
The Israeli army announced on Thursday evening that Sinwar had been assassinated after a year-long manhunt. In this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “The person who committed the worst massacre in the history of our nation has been eliminated. However, the war is not over yet, and we must recover the abducted.”
The U.S. Position
U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the Israeli Prime Minister on the successful operation that led to Sinwar’s death. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the U.S. will double its efforts to end the Middle East conflict and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
Continued U.S. Military Support for Israel
Washington has repeatedly reaffirmed its unwavering support for Israel. As part of this support, the Pentagon has ramped up its military aid to Israel since the start of military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 42,000 people and the injury of nearly 100,000 others. The U.S. has also sent a warship to the Eastern Mediterranean and announced its readiness to provide Israel with whatever it needs, including deploying the advanced THAAD missile system