2024-02-27T09:02:13+00:00
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/ The American newspaper “Washington Post” revealed, according to Israeli and American intelligence sources, that Yahya Sinwar is still hiding inside tunnels in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, “surrounding himself with Israeli hostages whom he uses as human shields.”
The biggest challenge, even more than uncovering Sinwar’s hideout, is carrying out an operation to kill or arrest him in a way that does not endanger the hostages, according to a senior Israeli official, who confirmed that there is a possibility of finding him, “but it is not about locating him, but rather doing something without risking the lives of the hostages,” he said.
According to the newspaper report, the United States is also participating in the search for Sinwar, but with caution. Sources familiar with the details said that analysts from the US Defense Intelligence Agency are helping Israel map Hamas tunnels, using “powerful analytical techniques” that combine different data outputs. They are also helping it analyze encrypted communications and information extracted from computer CDs, as well as processing information obtained through interrogation and investigation.
The report also notes that cooperation “could help in the search for Sinwar,” even though US intelligence does not have agents in the Gaza Strip and does not assist Israel in its daily operations in the Strip, such as locating “low-profile” Hamas fighters and the movement’s infrastructure. A former Mossad official told the newspaper that the Israelis do not need US help in managing the war against Hamas in Gaza, and “the question itself is insulting,” he said.