The former head of Israel’s National Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed on Thursday that Israel had multiple chances to eliminate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consistently turned down the proposals.
“Sinwar lives, unfortunately, because Israel does not want to engage in military adventurism,” said Nadav Argaman, who was speaking in Tel Aviv at the conference of the Institute for National Security Studies. “If we had launched a surprise attack on Hamas, we would be in a completely different situation.”
According to Argaman, “Israel decided that it would buy calm even if it came with a very high price later on,” adding that Israel “has become addicted to calm.”
The Shin Bet, tasked with safeguarding Israel’s internal security, was led by Argaman from 2016 to 2021.
Argaman stated that the proposal to eliminate Sinwar was endorsed by both his predecessor, Yoram Cohen, and his successor, Ronen Bar, who currently holds the position of director.
Since 2017, Sinwar, 61, has ruled Gaza as its strongman. When he was younger, Sinwar established the Majed squads of Hamas, which tracked down and murdered Palestinians who were thought to be working with Israel. It is known that Sinwar killed 12 people by hand.
Israeli medical professionals identified and removed a malignant growth from his head while he was serving four life sentences for the murder of collaborators.
Sinwar was one of the 1,027 security detainees released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. According to acquaintances, Sinwar is obsessed with Israel. The Tazpit Press Service was informed by an Egyptian official that the removal of Sinwar would facilitate the conclusion of the conflict.
Israel has offered a $400,000 reward to Gazans who may provide information about Sinwar.
On October 7, Hamas attacked Israeli communities close to the Gaza border, resulting in at least 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 240 Israelis and foreigners. Israel has declared 31 hostages out of the remaining 134 to be dead.