Israeli media outlets recently broadcast an interview with an officer from the Israeli Internal Security Service (Shin Bet), who was responsible for interrogating the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Yahya Sinwar, in the Gaza Strip. The officer recounted some striking details about the information Sinwar provided at that time.
The officer, Guy Hanan, mentioned that during Sinwar’s imprisonment in Israeli jails, Sinwar told him, “I am now a prisoner in your jails, but bear in mind that in a few years, you and your family will become prisoners of mine.”
The Shin Bet officer initially mocked Sinwar’s words, but looking back, he realizes the significance of what happened.
Israeli media recall that Sinwar was arrested by Israel in 1988 and sentenced to four life terms, in addition to 30 years. Israel never anticipated that Sinwar, who was serving a cumulative sentence of more than 430 years and was released unreservedly in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal (Wafa al-Ahrar deal) in 2011, would, years later, inflict Israel’s greatest military loss in its history and impose new equations in the conflict, which he had planned to carry out.
A week after his release, Sinwar stated that the best option for freeing the remaining prisoners inside was to kidnap more Israeli soldiers.
Israel recognizes Sinwar’s popularity within the Palestinian street, both before and after the launch of Operation al-Quds al-Aqsa. Sinwar addressed people of all spectra and factions, urging them to stand up against the injustice facing Palestinians.
On October 7, the Palestinian resistance launched Operation al-Quds al-Aqsa, which included a land, sea, and air attack, as well as incursions by resistance fighters into several settlements around Gaza. The operation resulted in the death of approximately 1,500 Israelis and the capture of about 250 others, intended for exchange with Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails.
