Sinwar Advised Hamas to Reject Hostage Agreement, Claiming Biden-Harris Were Backing Down on Israel

Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas commander behind the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel, rejected a potential hostage deal earlier this year. His reasoning? The Biden-Harris administration was buckling under pressure to alleviate Gaza's suffering, a move Sinwar believed could give Hamas a strategic advantage.

According to reports, Sinwar communicated with Hamas leadership outside Gaza, telling them to drag out any negotiations to return hostages. He suggested that high civilian casualties would eventually lead to international pressure on Israel, forcing their hand in concessions. In March, he explicitly instructed the Hamas political wing to refuse any deal, convinced that "mounting U.S. pressure to alleviate the suffering in Gaza" would work in their favor.

This U.S. pressure came from the Biden administration, which began urging Israel to dial back its military response against Hamas shortly after Israel's retaliation. The driving force? Biden’s growing concerns over dwindling support among the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, particularly with an election looming. Their weak stance on Israel gave Hamas an opening, one they were quick to exploit.

Sinwar's confidence was rooted in recent history. The Biden administration's pattern of faltering when tough decisions needed to be made whether on the global stage or within their own party had given Hamas a belief that the White House would ultimately cave under pressure. As more Democrats leaned toward anti-Israel sentiments, the administration seemed paralyzed, torn between defending an ally and keeping the party united.

In stark contrast, Israeli leadership had repeatedly targeted Sinwar over the years. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett both authorized operations to kill him following Hamas’ rocket attacks and incitement of violence. Yet, internal divisions among Israeli officials and government changes hindered those efforts. Meanwhile, left-leaning Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who briefly took power, appeared noticeably absent in discussions of eliminating Sinwar.

Sinwar’s reign of terror finally came to an end last week. After months on the run, Israeli forces engaged in a gunfight with Hamas operatives near Rafah. When the terrorists tried to sneak into a building, Israeli forces swiftly acted. A nearby tank fired at the structure, obliterating it and killing Sinwar in the process. His death marked the culmination of a long pursuit, but it also underscored the challenges posed by weak international leadership.

While Sinwar is no more, the damage caused by indecision and appeasement remains. It's a stark reminder of what happens when leadership fails to stand firm in the face of terror.

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