Yahya Sinwar, the newly appointed leader of Hamas, has complicated the ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Gaza with a rumored demand for a clause in any deal with Israel that would guarantee his personal safety.
Despite his history of boasting that it would be an honor to die fighting against Israel, and his previous opposition to cease-fires, Sinwar’s recent rise to power seems to have made him reconsider.
He became the leader of Hamas following the assassination of the former chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last month—a development that appears to have made Sinwar more cautious about his own safety.
Israel’s ongoing campaign to eliminate Hamas leaders might be hitting too close to home for Sinwar. Now, it’s up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to decide whether to entertain Sinwar’s request.
If agreeing to this demand could help secure the release of the remaining 109 hostages, perhaps a temporary promise could be made.
However, it’s important to remember that Hamas initiated this conflict by violating the existing cease-fire on October 6. The group remains committed to the complete destruction of Israel and would likely use any new cease-fire as an opportunity to rearm and launch further attacks.
Any promise to spare Sinwar would likely be short-lived. Israel cannot afford to allow Hamas to survive this conflict.
While Netanyahu might choose to temporarily play along with Sinwar’s demands, the world would understand that such a promise would be void the moment it became possible to eliminate a key figure in the terrorist organization.