More than a year ago, Israel launched its military operations against the Hamas movement, vowing to eliminate its leaders, especially the mastermind of the October 7 attacks, the movement’s leader, Yahya Sinwar.
Eliminating Sinwar was an essential part of the message sent by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to justify military operations inside Israel against the movement in Gaza, and indicated that its operations would continue until “the erasure of Hamas” and its leaders in order to prevent a recurrence of what happened on October 7.
With the announcement of the killing of the head of the Hamas political bureau, what does the elimination of Sinwar mean for Israel? What is the future of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip after Sinwar and the killing of a group of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders?
Eyal Holata, the former Israeli National Security Advisor, says, “We have been waiting for Sinwar’s killing for some time in the Israeli establishment. This war lasted more than a year, and he was not only the perpetrator and planner of the largest massacre of Israeli civilians since the founding of Israel, but he also did everything he could to obstruct any agreement related to it.” Release the hostages and cease fire.
He added in an interview For “Al Hurra” channel “I hope that his removal will provide engagement (in negotiations), return the hostages and begin to close the file of the war that has raged for a long time and caused suffering and destruction.”
Regarding the Israeli military operations in Gaza, Holata said, “As long as Sinwar was controlling the situation in Gaza, there was no importance in providing a better future for the people of the Strip. Sinwar did not care about their suffering and conditions, and he did not care whether they were receiving protection or whether they were receiving humanitarian aid.” All he cared about was showing Israel in a bad light and killing as many Israeli civilians and soldiers as possible.”
Holata raised a question about what might happen in the Gaza Strip following the killing of Sinwar: “Now that he is gone from the scene, how will Gaza reappear? Will there be a practical person who can engage with him to reach an agreement regarding the hostages and begin reconstruction?”
“Sinwar’s last moments.” A video by the Israeli army
On Thursday, the Israeli army showed a video clip that it says shows the “last moments” of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was announced dead.
In response to a question about fear of any reprisals due to the killing of Sinwar and its consequences on the hostage situation, Holata answered by saying: “Of course there is a risk, and this is something that Israel must take into account. There were opportunities to kill Sinwar and Israel did not take them because it did not want to harm the hostages.” “around him.”
He stated that Sinwar “had no intentions of delivering the hostages to Israel as a result of his noble feelings. He tried to intimidate Israel and demonize the situation in Gaza,” expressing his hope that “practical” people would emerge in Gaza to end the war and stated that “this is the solution, the release of hostages and the beginning of new possibilities.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday-Friday night that the killing of Sinwar represents “The beginning of the end“For the war that has been going on between the Israeli army and Hamas in the Gaza Strip for a year.
He said in a video message in English, “Yahya Al-Sinwar is dead. He was killed in Rafah” at the hands of the Israeli army, stressing that “this does not mean the end of the war in Gaza, but rather the beginning of the end.”
The families of the hostages in Gaza carried a similar message to Netanyahu. A group representing the families welcomed the killing of Sinwar, but while recognizing the potential opportunity, called on Israel to refocus efforts towards negotiating the deal.
The killing of Sinwar and the Gaza war.. Netanyahu talks about “the beginning of the end”
The killing of Yahya Sinwar, a prominent Hamas leader and planner of the October 7 attack, represents a dramatic turning point in the year-long war in the Gaza Strip, and is also a powerful symbolic achievement for Israel in its battle to eliminate the movement.
Regarding the expected response to the attacks launched by Iran this October, Holata told Al-Hurra: “I would not like to call it a retaliatory response. Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel without provocation, first in April and then weeks ago, and every time they had an excuse.” ‘Israel bombed an embassy in Damascus’ ‘Israel did not bomb an embassy in Damascus.’
He added, “The Israeli strikes are accurate and do not push the region into a larger conflict. Iran is now using the situation in Lebanon as an excuse and the fact that Israel was able to target Nasrallah and those around him,” and pointed out that Tehran used this as a justification for launching ballistic missiles.
Holata noted, “When Israel weighs its options, this is not for retaliation. We must restore the feeling that no one can fire missiles at Israel. There is a need to restore deterrence. There is no ‘retaliation’ or ‘punishment.’ Israel is in a sensitive position because It must respond and respond wisely, and I do not think the goal is to create greater tension in the region.”
He ruled out Israel attacking the nuclear program now, “but I expect it to pursue (Iran’s) defensive and offensive capabilities until it is certain that Iran will not repeat its action again.”
Holata stated that the administration of US President Joe Biden provided tremendous support to Israel, noting that “of course there will be differences” with the Israeli government in the amount of force used in military operations, but he emphasized continued American support.
In response to a question about the concerns that the countries of the region, and the Gulf in particular, may have regarding any Israeli response to the recent Iranian attack, Holata said: “It is worth noting that while Israel was criticized by European liberal capitals, the level of criticism from the Gulf was not high. “These countries understand the nature of radical Islam and the dangers of violence posed by terrorist organizations.”
Holata noted, “There are still airlines from Bahrain and the Emirates coming to Israel. I am sure that the governments are coordinating well. I do not expect them to support Israel’s military activities. They of course have their own agenda, but they are aware of the real danger to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian regime, and Iran’s agents.” In the Middle East.
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