In video: Gallant presented silver envelopes from Iran to Sinwar 02.08.24/Shahar Yurman
Israel has expressed a willingness to allow the exile of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar outside the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of all the abductees and the end of the terrorist organization's control over the Strip - this was reported this evening (Thursday) on NBC according to six senior Israeli officials.
According to the report, the purpose of the idea of exile for the Hamas leader is to pave the way for a new governing body in the Gaza Strip.
The idea has been on the negotiating table since November.
The Israeli government initially pledged to kill senior Hamas officials, Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Daf, who led the terrorist attack on October 7.
The idea of deporting the two senior officials and four other senior officials instead, along the lines of the deportation of Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization from Beirut 42 years ago - came up after the start of the war as a possible alternative means of removing the Hamas leadership from Gaza.
"We don't care if (Sinwar) leaves like Arafat left Lebanon," a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying on NBC, "we will allow it to happen as long as all the abductees are released."
"It is unlikely that Sinwar will ever agree to disclose"/Reuters
Two sources familiar with the matter said that the exile option is one of a series of proposals made by the Israeli security establishment to the American administration - among others, these included the replacement of Hamas with civilian leaders who will be selected in advance and a comprehensive reform of the education system in Gaza.
In 1982, during the First Lebanon War, when the IDF besieged the capital, Beirut, where the PLO headquarters was then - the US and other international mediators arranged the deportation of the members of the organization and its leader Yasser Arafat. Hundreds of PLO fighters then left Lebanon by ship , followed by Arafat, who lived in exile in Tunisia for 12 years.
On the other hand, officials in the war cabinet dealing with the day after the war in Gaza, admit that it is unlikely that Sinwar will ever agree to disclose.
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A former senior official in the security establishment told NBC News that "exile is this magical solution that everyone would like - but there is no way that Hamas will agree to it."
In addition, Palestinian leaders and Arab governments are wary of any Israeli proposal on the image of the Gaza Strip in the day after the war - according to foreign diplomats and former American officials.
In addition, sources in Israel say they believe that Sinwar and Def are now hiding deep in the tunnels under Khan Yunis and Rafih - in the southern Gaza Strip.
The sources claim that the IDF soldiers are getting closer to the two senior officials in deepening the maneuver to the south.
The Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, said last Monday that "Hamas' leadership and Yahya Sinaver at its head is on the run from the IDF forces. Sinvar moves from hiding place to hiding place and is unable to communicate with his surroundings. He is busy with his survival Personally, he is not leading the campaign, and has turned the head of Hamas into a fugitive terrorist."
More on the same topic:
Yahya Sinwar
Gaza Strip
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
Hamas