Less than a year after a terrorist attack carried out by Hamas militants in Israel, in which 1,200 people died and over 240 were taken hostage, Israeli officials say more than 42,000 people have died in Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza. It was believed that Hamas leader Sinwar had prioritized his governance project in Gaza over attacking Israel, but it was revealed that he had been planning a gruesome attack for years to draw Israeli forces into Gaza.
Sinwar, along with Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’ armed wing, was credited as the mastermind behind the attacks. While Israel confirmed Deif’s death, Sinwar managed to evade the Israeli military until recently. Security officials believe he remained on the move, constantly changing locations and hiding in the tunnels below Gaza to avoid detection.
Despite being targeted by the Israeli military, Sinwar became Hamas’ political leader in August after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran, with Israel suspected of being responsible for the attack. Sinwar’s rise to power amid ongoing conflict and violence highlights the complicated and dangerous political landscape in the region.
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