Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Loses Support, Uses Hostages as Human Shields

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who reportedly disguised himself as a woman to evade Israeli intelligence, is facing growing dissent from other terrorist groups in Gaza. As his grip on power weakens, Sinwar has surrounded himself with 22 handcuffed hostages in an underground hideout, using them as human shields to protect himself from Israeli strikes.

Key developments include:

• Sinwar is losing the support of key Gaza-based terrorist organizations, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.

• These groups have cut off communication with Sinwar due to his prioritization of Hamas prisoners in potential deals with Israel, sidelining their own members.

• Sinwar is reportedly hiding underground, moving frequently to avoid detection by Israeli forces, who have come close to targeting him multiple times.

The rift between Sinwar and other Gaza factions centers on their demands that any agreement with Israel include the release of all Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli prisons, not just those affiliated with Hamas. Sinwar, however, has focused on securing the freedom of Hamas members, leading to a breakdown in alliances.

Israeli officials have disclosed that Sinwar has narrowly escaped assassination on several occasions, with Israel holding back due to the presence of hostages. Shin Bet’s Shalom Ben Hanan revealed that Sinwar is constantly on the move, aware that Israeli intelligence can track underground locations. “We are looking for him using technology and human intelligence, and believe he is likely to be hiding in plain sight,” Ben Hanan noted.

Sinwar’s desperation is further evident in his insistence on a guarantee from Israel that he will not be assassinated as part of any deal. This demand, conveyed by an Egyptian official, underscores his fear of retribution amid increasing isolation.

Sinwar’s reputation as a ruthless leader is well-documented. Betty Lahat, a former warden of Hasharon Prison where Sinwar was once held, described him as "adversarial and cruel," known for orchestrating violence without directly getting involved. In prison, he manipulated others to carry out attacks while keeping himself out of harm’s way—a pattern that seems to continue as he uses hostages to shield himself from Israel’s reach.

As tensions rise, Sinwar’s position within Gaza’s terrorist hierarchy appears increasingly precarious, raising questions about the future of Hamas leadership and the potential consequences for the ongoing conflict.

Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on the situation in Gaza and global security issues.