Report: Hamas Leader Sinwar’s Correspondence Reveals Indifference to Gaza Civilians, Focus on Ceasefire

By Yoni Weiss

Correspondence from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar with senior members of the terror group since Oct. 7 has come to light, showing his indifference to the suffering of Gaza civilians. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that these messages also pertain to negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.

Following the deaths of three of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh’s sons in an April airstrike, Sinwar wrote that their deaths, along with other Palestinian casualties, would “infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor,” illustrating his cold stance on Gaza’s suffering.

Since the war in Gaza began, Israel has faced criticism for its military offensive, with widespread coverage of the destruction and civilian casualties provided by the Hamas Health Ministry. Sinwar recently wrote to senior Hamas officials, “We have the Israelis right where we want them,” during hostage negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt.

The Wall Street Journal obtained dozens of messages from Sinwar to the negotiation team, revealing his disregard for civilian casualties, comparing them to the sacrifices in Algeria’s War of Independence against France.

Sinwar’s ultimate goal appears to be securing a permanent ceasefire, which he believes would allow Hamas to claim a historic victory. Despite being surprised by the brutality of the Oct. 7 attacks, Sinwar’s correspondence indicates his belief that Israel’s options are limited to occupying Gaza and dealing with prolonged guerrilla warfare.

While the IDF dismantles Hamas’s military infrastructure, Hamas’s political leadership has been meeting with other Palestinian factions to discuss post-war plans for Gaza, excluding Sinwar. He responded by denouncing these consultations and asserting that Hamas still has the capability to continue fighting for months.

As Israel set a deadline for Hamas to agree to a deal before Ramadan and the ground operation in Rafah, Sinwar urged his colleagues to hold firm, believing civilian casualties would pressure Israel internationally. His messages also indicate his readiness to die in battle.

The ongoing ground operations in Rafah have brought significant humanitarian and diplomatic challenges for Israel, as Sinwar anticipated.