Hamas says it has chosen Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct. 7 attacks, as its new leader

[iemanja]

Source: AP

BEIRUT (AP) — The Palestinian militant group Hamas said Tuesday it has chosen Yahya Sinwar, its top official in Gaza who masterminded the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, as its new leader.

The choice of Sinwar, a secretive figure who leads Hamas' hardliners and is close to Iran, was a defiant step. Sinwar is at the top of Israel’s kill list as it seeks to destroy Hamas and its leadership after the Oct. 7 attack in which militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took about 250 as hostages.

Hamas said in a statement it named Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau to replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran last week in a presumed Israeli strike. Also last week, Israel said it had confirmed the death of the head of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, in a July airstrike in Gaza. Hamas has not confirmed his death.
Unlike Haniyeh, who had lived in exile in Qatar for years, Sinwar has remained in Gaza. As Hamas' leader in the territory since 2017, he rarely appeared in public but kept an iron grip on Hamas' rule. Close to Deif and the armed wing, known as the Qassam Brigades, he worked to build up the group's military capabilities.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hamas-says-it-has-chosen-yahya-sinwar-mastermind-of-the-oct-7-attacks-as-its-new-leader/ar-AA1olfkX?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=8455d2cf79e34e95b2e3fa24138eb0e1&ei=50

---

They seem to be very proud of themselves and the bloodshed they wrought.

[JohnSJ]

1. Netanyahu is a jackass. While the attack against Hezbollah was understandable as

retaliation for the killing of civilians, the killing of Haniyeh, who was involved in direct negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release was a direct effort to sabotage that effort.

It will be nothing short of a miracle if they can get the negotiations back on track.

It would be really helpful if Israel would call a vote of no confidence against Netanyahu with a replacement.

[Cheezoholic]

2. Agree, I'm convinced he's a Putin level Despot. This has gone beyond the barbarism of 10/7

and hopefully Israeli citizens can see through this desperate sociopaths actions that he is leading them down an ever more dangerous blood riddled path for his own self preservation.

[wolfie001]

4. Seems like he just wants to stay in power

He was up for corruption charges then he had the whole judiciary branch rewrite their laws to suit him. So odd and evil.

[former9thward]

5. No he didn't.

The Israeli judicial branch has not rewritten any laws to suit him. The corruption trial is still going on. The war has not stopped the hearings.

[wolfie001]

19. My bad. lol. He attempted and still is trying to

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israels-high-court-strikes-down-key-law-netanyahus-controversial-judicial-overhaul-plan/

Pre Oct 7th:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-supreme-court-60-minutes-transcript/

Basically, he's a menace and should be ousted by the Israelis. That's my take.

[Beastly Boy]

21. You are talking about Sinwar, right?

No? Why not?

[wolfie001]

22. Is that Netty's first name? Thanks. Didn't know

[Beastly Boy]

27. So you are not talking about Sinwar.

In a thread about Sinwar being appointed leader of Hamas.

You claim not to know what Netty's first name is. Ok, now you know it's not Sinwar. For your next attempt at being funny, will you now claim you don't now what "deflection" means?

[wolfie001]

31. He's a horrific murderer just like his predecessor

Anyone in the ranks of Hamas cannot be dealt with through peaceful means. Bibi just seems to be throwing gasoline on a long burning fire. I'm sure some of what he's doing is due to the US election and the reinvigorating campaigning of Kamala. He's feeling pressure to do "something". It's always the wrong "something". Just my take.

[Beastly Boy]

33. It appears I was right.

This time the deflection is prefaced by the subject at hand. That's progress, I guess...

[wolfie001]

34. Wait, what?

This is how I've always felt: Bibi is awful and so is the Hamas leadership. Two turds in a bowl. Sorry, but my views have never changed. Not sure what you're up to but pretzel logic isn't a strong argument. I like what Joe tries to do thru Blinken and the realization that a 2-state solution is the only option going forward. Right? My links to those 2 articles should let anyone know how toxic Bibi is. Israel's donald dump. Not a compliment.

[Beastly Boy]

46. Seems like you left half of what you always felt out of your Post#4

Curiously, the half you addressed had nothing to do with the OP, while the half you left out has everything to do with the OP.

I was equally surprised with your choices as you appear to be with my response to them.

[AloeVera]

7. I agree! It was sabotage.

That's it in a nutshell. Also, Haniyeh was the "moderate" one, relatively speaking. Wanted a ceasefire, willing to negotiate and compromise. Often at odds with Sinwar, the hardliner. So the assassination got rid of the main obstacle to Netanyahu's plans to continue the war, at any cost. Like you, I don't see much hope on the horizon now. It's infuriating.

Outside of MASSIVE protests against him somehow forcing an election, I don't know of a mechanism available to get rid of him. My fear though is that the war still has broad support among society, as do the policies relating to the West Bank. So in my view getting rid of Netanyahu, even if possible, would not necessarily lead to a ceasefire or a change of policy towards Palestinians.

You are too kind, though, to call him a jackass. He deserves to be called worse.

[The Magistrate]

11. There Are No 'Moderates' In Hamas

His 'contribution' to negotiations seems mostly to have been false claims and reneging on points previously agreed to 'in principle'.

The idea Netanyahu is the sole obstacle to a 'negotiated settlement' is bullshit.

Hamas has no interest whatever in cessation of Israeli military action in Gaza. They consider more dead and maimed Palestinians to be political and diplomatic capital, and into the bargain, as those killed are martyrs who died 'defending religion'; they have received the gift of Paradise, and who would be so mean as to deny this boon to others among Gaza's populace by some pusillanimous 'peace' agreement with JEWS?

[AloeVera]

43. Poppycock and balderdash.

Hamas has no interest whatever in cessation of Israeli military action in Gaza.

I can't say what is more important to them, freedom for their people as they claim, or maintaining their power. But I'm fairly certain none of them either want to die or want their people to die. I don't demonize people or religions that way, the rank-and-file having nothing to do with Oct 7th, let alone the 2 million civilians - celebrations over dead hostages by a few hundred or thousand notwithstanding.

You can't ignore the facts which disprove your argument. Hamas offered the hostages back - in October - in return for a ceasefire. Hamas accepted the recent Biden framework. Netanyahu did not, added new conditions and then assassinated the chief negotiator.

As well, you can't seriously believe that Hamas wanted Gaza made into a graveyard with the intention of ruling over nothing but ashes and dirt and their surviving people made into starving, utterly dispossessed beggars.

Seems to me this bitterly sarcastic argument about martyrdom and Paradise, with aspersions of Jew-hate thrown in, is the last gasp of staunch believers who just can't face the truth of what should be clear to them by now. Not just Gaza, look at the West Bank if you doubt what the broader goals are and why a ceasefire doesn't fit into those plans.

[The Magistrate]

44. And Accurate....

The nearest thing to an honest objection to the statement is that some of the fighters, despite their professed dedication to martyrdom, would like to live a bit longer.

Hamas fights to kill enough Jews the rest flee, and any who remain are subjugated inferiors by law.

It's not an open question, there's no great mystery about it, no hidden meaning to be probed by pundits or academics.

[AloeVera]

47. What blinders are you wearing, I'd like some too, for an easier life.

Hamas fights to kill enough Jews the rest flee, and any who remain are subjugated inferiors by law.

Substitute Palestinians for Jews, and Irgun, Leahy etc for Hamas and what do you get? A description of the Nakba and the 76-year status of subjugated NON-JEWISH people.

It always astonishes me, this level of unawareness? projection? subconscious fear of retribution in-kind or the long-arc of justice?

Whatever it is, it's blinding you to reality. It is not within the realm of possibility that Hamas could ever be a viable threat to Israel's existence or security. That threat comes from within.

[The Magistrate]

50. It's The Thought That Counts....

They do the best they can to realize their dreams --- and isn't that what life's about? Striving for the stars?

Look, I expect you're a good person, kind, open-hearted, all the pug-marks of a decent chap.

Decent chaps can no more comprehend fanatics and predators than can a man who's warm understand a man who's cold. It's only a problem when they imagine they do. Leads to mistakes, usually made with the very best of intentions....

[AloeVera]

54. I suppose...

Being viewed as naive but well-intentioned is a step up from what I've been called here by a few. I thank you for that. But...

I can assure you I am unfortunately familiar with predators. Comes from being naive, a mistake I will not make again. Yet the price was too high for that life lesson. Trauma responses can be self-destructive, a lesson I wish both Israelis and Palestinians would come to reckon with. There is no good to come from taking on aspects of your abuser.

But I am very tired now. Good night.

[EX500rider]

70. "But I'm fairly certain none of them either want to die or want their people to die"

I disagree, when most of your Hamas command posts & weapons storage are in schools & hospitals etc you very obviously don't care how many of your civilians get killed, and in fact may be trying to get many killed by the IDF so you can point to the "murderous jews" and get a big international PR boost.

[AloeVera]

71. Show me the evidence of a command post in a school or hospital.

Please don't insult my intelligence by referring to the laundry room and toilet under Al-Shifa. Where was the high-tech, war-room equipped, multi-story engineering wonder touted by the IDF? NOWHERE. Nothing, nada. But that did not stop the IDF from utterly destroying the biggest hospital in Gaza, killing patients and staff and burying them in mass graves on the hospital grounds. That particular war crime needs to be fully investigated.

The entire "war" is one long, horrific war crime. But I await the evidence to back-up your claim.

[The Magistrate]

72. There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not To See

Do you honestly imagine Hamas does not deploy its fighters and establish its facilities in situations such that an attempt to attack them will necessarily entail harm to bystanders?

If your answer is yes, why do you think that?

What have you seen that makes it seem reasonable to believe Hamas acts in accord with humanitarian law?

The proposition you appear to maintain, that Israel's military is simply killing people, that attacking Hamas is simply a pretext for their doing so, were I to agree with it, would require my assent to the proposition that Israel is malicious by nature. And to be blunt, even this would be of no moment unless accompanied by credible assertion that Hamas is of a different, better, more benign nature than its foe. Otherwise, it's just a scrap between a pair of hard men, without any solid moral ground to prefer one to the other. In such a case, one is left with little but tastes and affinities by which to choose a side, if one feels some need to pick one....


"People who see the world in blacks and whites are helpless confronted by a need to choose between jet and onyx greys."

[AloeVera]

83. I feel the same way about your side, oddly.

Surely you can see that it goes both ways.

Of course Hamas operates among civilians. I don't defend that, I simply understand why they do it. From a pragmatic military perspective I think you would too. Desperate, fanatical guerilla-type militia fighting a Goliath military in an urban setting. Since I see their strategy as arising out of necessity, I can't agree with the simple-minded (and demonizing) view that it is done for "PR" or some religious mumbo-jumbo.

Granted, there could also be a touch of the ends-justify-the-means about it, as there is with Israel's Hannibal Directive. War is stupid and evil, on all sides.

But since the killing of civilians is being done by Israel, it matters not much to me whether Hamas follows IHL. Is Israel? Why is that question always ignored and the focus kept on Hamas? Why can't we instead have an honest discussion on Israel's violation of IHL, that has resulted in the massive slaughter of civilians and the deliberate starvation and immiseration.

From a strictly legal perspective under IHL, violations by one party do not justify violations by the other. IHL is non-reciprocal, meaning they apply regardless of what the other side has done. So if we have a discussion on IHL, it's the first principle to keep in mind.

Until I can be convinced that there is absolutely no alternative to bombing civilians and their infrastructure, hospitals, schools, without regard to distinction or proportionality meant to protect them, I will go on believing that yes, shockingly "Israel's military is killing people". I don't WANT to believe that, nor that it is done out of malice or a desire to hurt and punish Palestinians but please tell me what other conclusion I can arrive at if I don't buy the whole "Israel has no choice" narrative?

"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true."
- Kierkegaard

[The Magistrate]

84. But You Do Defend It

You claim all evidence of their doing so is just lies told by the Israeli government.

You also misquote, which I take as evidence of bad faith. You indicated "Israel's military is killing people" was a quote from my comment above. At the very least, there ought to be an ellipse between 'is' and 'killing'. Here's what you extracted those five words from: "The proposition you appear to maintain, that Israel's military is simply killing people, that attacking Hamas is simply a pretext for their doing so...."

Noncombatants are being killed because Hamas treats the people of Gaza as so many sand-bags piled on a dug-out roof. The death of Gaza residents is the one weapon Hamas has capable of doing Israel much harm: the deaths serve to rouse feeling against Israel, and as we have seen, against Jews in general, among people who are mostly well-meaning, if muddled in their thinking, and possessing little awareness of the currents of history which have produced this. It's a cheap trick, and one so obvious I will not insult Hamas leadership by claiming they do not see it, and exploit it consciously. It would not work at all against any but a nation of Jews, the designated scapegoats of Christendom and Islam both for centuries.

That Hamas is a body of religious fanatics, whose declared aim is establishing an Islamic theocracy between the river and the sea, and who conceive this to be their religious duty, is a fact. That Hamas glorifies martyrdom, that it considers itself at the head of a nation of martyrs, is also self-proclaimed fact. That those martyred in the holy cause are translated immediately to Paradise, and that no fate is sweeter or more pleasing to God, is doctrine of long standing.

Modern secular people often do make the mistake of imagining people do not really believe their religion's dogmas. These are generally such fervid nonesense it's an easy mistake to make: it is hard to believe people, at least people of sound mind, really do believe these things. But they do, and when a man takes up arms in religion's name, he means it. He's not really fighting for some secular reason of economic or political arrangements: he's doing the Will of God. If you can't wrap your head around that, you haven't the least understanding of the matter at hand.

Two things would end the killing in Gaza.

Hamas can surrender, release all captives and accept the lot of prisoners of war. If they had the slightest interest in the lives of Gaza's residents, that is what they would do.

What Israel will do otherwise is continue military operations until Hamas is neutralized as a fighting and governing organization, at which point the Israeli military will cease active warfare in Gaza.


"When you appeal to the court of force, the one thing you must not do is lose."

[AloeVera]

86. One of Bibi's lies is that Hamas is ISIS. It's a self-serving and dangerous lie.

Hamas is not a religious terrorist group like ISIS. In its essence, it is a secular terrorist group. Its goal is not to impose Sharia Law on the world but to regain the homeland for Palestinians. It views violence and guerilla warfare as a state duty, not a religious duty, and its audience is the world, not just Muslims. Its objectives are local, not transnational and it seeks acceptance at the UN, not destruction of our world order.

I do not defend Hamas' use of civilians. I am simply saying that it is unacceptable to me, and I think IHL agrees, that civilians are harmed repeatedly, systematically, at schools and hospitals on flimsy or non-existent evidence for just cause. It is not enough to suspect the presence of Hamas fighters, the facility must be used for military attacks. Even then, proportionality must be considered. It is plainly morally wrong to bomb a school full of civilians, kill 50 or more and injure hundreds in order to eliminate a few Hamas who may or may not be there.

So it doesn't impress me, the litany of wrongs about Hamas. It's not the issue in this possible genocide. Neither does scaremongering about the nature of Hamas, as I see that incorrectly painting them as being motivated by religious fanaticism just furthers and rationalizes the killing of innocents and the continuation of the war. We've seen already how effective it was at obstructing movement towards a two-state or any kind of solution.

It's also dangerous to Israel's long-term security. A good read:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/11/21/hamas-isis-are-not-the-same-00128107

As for the misquote, you can disbelieve it if you wish, but it was purely unintentional. I was working on a laptop but copying text from my phone, it was late, the trash wasn't going to take itself out, so I was careless and made a regrettable mistake. Were I devious enough to misquote you on purpose, I don't see much that would have been gained but much lost. It's a hard blow to be unfairly accused of bad faith.

To be clear, though, I don't think Israel is "simply killing people". I just don't think it cares that too many people die in pursuit of Hamas, or are collectively punished in heinous ways, or it would follow IHL.

[The Magistrate]

87. Do, Please, Instruct Me Further, Dear, My Ignorance Is Legend

"I'm going home. Someone bring me some frogs and some bourbon."

[AloeVera]

88. Enjoy your day off.

See 'ya.

[The Magistrate]

93. 'Day Off'?

I don't normally circle back, not once frogs and bourbon are summoned, but that cries out for a simple question:

Is this your job?

Seriously. How much of your time and energy do you devote to this?

[AloeVera]

95. Lol. I'm retired.

I should be sipping margueritas on the beach but alas God had other plans for me.

I keep very busy, thanks for asking. And you?

[The Magistrate]

97. I Take Amusement Where I Find It...

"English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them into the alley, knocks them down and rifles their pockets for spare vocabulary and loose grammar."

[Israeli]

99. Which God would that be ?

Asking as a secular atheist Israeli in the middle of a religious war .
You know ....God on our side and all that

?si=Q2A1UBqNS3yn15Wj

[AloeVera]

102. Goddess, Goodness, Force for Good.

Not what you think.

Thanks for the clip. I remember that song. A great anti-war song. With God on Our Side we never have to worry about the morality of war or how immorally we fight it, we are always right - isn't that so?

There was also a documentary by the same name. I'd like to see it. From wiki:

With God On Our Side is a 2009 film by Porter Speakman Jr. and Kevin Miller (filmmaker), the latter of whom is the co-creator of the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The documentary criticizes the theology behind Christian Zionism and the attitude toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict taken by many American evangelicals, as well as the indifference by many Westerners toward the plight of Palestinian Christians. The film argues that Christians who take the Bible seriously should not "take either side" in the conflict, but rather be peacemakers and stand up for the rights of all people in the region. In the film, Palestinian Christians are interviewed and share their families' stories. Leading evangelical supporters (such as John Hagee) and critics of Christian Zionism (Stephen Sizer) are also given the opportunity to share their views.[1][2][3]

Jürgen Bühler of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem said that the views expressed in the film are "unfortunately colored by a strong sense of Palestinian nationalism.”[4]

We can't have that, oh my.

[Israeli]

91. Hamas is secular

[AloeVera]

94. Ok I admit that is funny.

Secular it certainly is not! I meant to say nationalist. It is above all a nationalist group rooted in its people, with largely sociopolitical goals and the aim of national liberation.

[Israeli]

96. This is funny

secular Israeli leftist humor , enjoy .....

?si=WE8oV9vrj2F_qcqi

[AloeVera]

103. The part...

"All the civilians have run out of town and we are LEFT TOTALLY UNPROTECTED! (Sad face).

I laughed out loud.

Really well done and hilarious. It's the kind of satirical, absurdist humour us leftists and liberals like.

I just can't reconcile my like for this with the images and stories I see every day, one worse than the other. Humour just feels wicked now, not in a good way.

[The Magistrate]

98. National Liberation Being Defined As Killing And Expelling Jews On The Aspiring Nation's Territory

And the socio-political goal being establishment of an Islamic theocracy, hostile to every value we on the left work to further in our own societies.

And by the way, with that 'rooted in its people' praise, you abandoned any pretense that the people of Gaza do not support Hamas in its aims and actions. Folks like to toss around the word 'complicit', as if it equated somehow to 'active participation', and ought to be regarded a such....


"The problem with argument by hyperbole is that the exaggerations for effect come, with frequent repetition, to be taken for fact by their utterer, and these, of course, he must in turn exaggerated for effect, and so on, and so on, till a mouse is described in terms would better match an elephant."

[AloeVera]

104. Well, this is not 1947-48 anymore.

On the other hand, it may as well be - for Palestinians.

[The Magistrate]

105. No, It Is 2024, Some Months After --- What Was It Called? --- Yes, 'al Aqsa Flood', That Was It

I've heard many chant for an encore....

[Israeli]

90. Yup

Modern secular people often do make the mistake of imagining people do not really believe their religion's dogmas. These are generally such fervid nonesense it's an easy mistake to make: it is hard to believe people, at least people of sound mind, really do believe these things. But they do, and when a man takes up arms in religion's name, he means it. He's not really fighting for some secular reason of economic or political arrangements: he's doing the Will of God. If you can't wrap your head around that, you haven't the least understanding of the matter at hand.

[Beastly Boy]

73. There used to be a time when UN openly reported on their schools and hospitals being used by Hamas

as command and control centers.
https://www.thetower.org/1955-un-report-confirms-hamas-stored-and-fired-weapons-from-un-schools/

But that was before UNRWA began putting hamas operatives on their payroll.

In this time and age, however, you can't rely on UN to accurately report on UN, so you will have to sift through a list of Hamas war crimes to find the one you favor most.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas_war_crimes

Alternatively, you can turn away from all the existing evidence (which, BTW, you asked for and received on numerous prior occasions) and keep on insisting that what happened never happened.

I doubt this will surprise anyone.

[EX500rider]

74. Please, about the only place Hamas stores weapons and has HQ's is under schools/hospitals/homes/UN facilities

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-hamas-command-center-based-out-of-unrwa-facility-in-central-gaza-targeted-in-strike/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/03/hamas-gaza-israel-alshifa-tunnels/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/02/us/politics/gaza-hospital-hamas.html

https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/12/20/hamas-member-admits-it-uses-hospital-as-command-center/

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rklcx8jet

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/israel-middle-east/hamas-command-center-found-under-cemetery

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-photos-hamas-gaza-weapons-un-facilities-including-schools/

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-idf-uncovers-hamas-weaponry-in-unrwa-facility-in-central-gaza

[The Magistrate]

75. "It's All Lies! Lies Against My Boys!"

That's what the 'argument' boils down to, and I'm fond of Ma Barker's statement of the case....

[AloeVera]

78. It's not evidence!!

According to the IDF spokesperson....

IDF says...

IDF claims...

IDF found ...

IDF shows...

IDF reports....

Oh here's a good one: tortured prisoner claims Hamas uses...

Please.

[EX500rider]

79. Well you can either trust the IDF when they said they found it or Hamas when they said they didn't

I certainly know who I trust out of those two, ymmv

It's a war zone who else do you expect to be reporting other than the two conflicting sides

[AloeVera]

81. Since you asked...

International press. You know, like in Ukraine or any other modern war. Local journalists don't have the same clout and many have been killed. An Al-Jazeera journalist and his photog just last week, in a targeted operation like all the the others, many killed with their wives, parents and kids. Oh, but they were Hamas! Ok then, let in the credible foreign press.

Two, the appropriate UN agencies.

BOTH have been barred or restricted. Why?

I do not reflexively believe the IDF as I don't believe in the honesty or "goodwill" , good intentions of the current Israeli government.

[Beastly Boy]

85. Seriously... show me a single international press article or a UN report that includes evidence of

any combatant in the world, let alone Ukraine, using schools and hospitals as command and control centers!

The only evidence of the above in your sources of preference will point to Hamas as the sole practitioner of this criminal tactic. Because... drum role please... THEY ARE THE SOLE PRACTITIONER OF THIS CRIMINAL TACTIC! No other criminal enterprise in history ever considered this abomination to be acceptable in their pursuit of organized violence.

The evidence is there allright. But it is buried under a heap of garbage from the various Hamas authorities, which are being presumed by aforementioned sources, for no rational reason whatsoever, to be more trustworthy than IDF.

All you have to do is, for the sake of the evidence you so forcefully implore others to show you, have the will to get dirty yourself and dig a little deeper into what is being reported.

But something tells me I will never see the day...

[toesonthenose]

67. I wish I could accurately express my thoughts on your posts

As eloquently as you post them. Couldn't agree with you more on your take in regard to this issue, and many others. You are an incredible part of this community, honestly a treasure. Thank you!

[former9thward]

9. Haniyeh was directly involved in the planning of the Oct 7th mass murders.

Those leaders do not get a pass simply because they are living a life of luxury in Qatar. The leaders of the Munich Olympic massacre were tracked for years and killed no matter where they were at.

[JohnSJ]

23. In other words, f**k the hostages, don't bother with any ceasefire talks, and continue to bomb Gaza back to the stone

age.

As for "getting a pass", I never said anything about them "getting a pass", they were the designated negotiators.

I believe it was Rabin who said "You don't negotiate with friends. You negotiate with very unsavory enemies.

They have now replaced him with the actual mastermind for the October 7 attacks, which effectively means no ceasefire negotiations, no additional hostage release.

[former9thward]

28. Hamas has had no intention of releasing any more hostages unless Israel surrenders.

There is very little military action going on in Gaza now. Hamas has never negotiated in good faith no matter who the designated leader is. What Hamas demand do you think Israel should agree to?

[JohnSJ]

32. They are still bombing Gaza. As for your question what Hamas demand should Israel agree to? The same one President

Biden asked, as ceasefire and release the hostages

[former9thward]

40. Hamas refuses both.

[JohnSJ]

42. I wasn't in those negotiations, were you? President Biden sure gave a different impression. Are you saying he was

President Biden was lying?

[AloeVera]

49. That is an outright falsehood.

So false and ridiculous, I can't even be bothered to correct you. Smh

[former9thward]

53. You can't.

[PufPuf23]

48. Israel is never going to surrender. There is no need for Israel to surrender.

Israel needs to carve a peace that works.

[former9thward]

52. I believe what people say.

Hamas wants Israel destroyed. They want many more Oct 7s. They have said that over and over. I believe them. Do you?

[iemanja]

56. Surrender?

The condition is a cease fire, not surrender. What on earth would Israel surrender? Gaza isn't theirs legally.

[former9thward]

57. I guess you don't know the Hamas program.

They want the complete end of Israel.

[iemanja]

58. That is not what they are demanding in negotiations

and you know full well that's the case.

[former9thward]

68. Do you support the Hamas position?

[iemanja]

76. Of course not

But do try to stick to facts when debating. It makes you look bad when you don't.

[former9thward]

77. Thank you for your concern.

You might want to try a mirror sometime...

[iemanja]

82. If you ever find me posting a lie

Feel free to point it out.

[former9thward]

89. Which would be a TOS violation -- a personal attack.

I can see what you are doing there.

[iemanja]

100. Pointing out facts is acceptable

How strange you would think otherwise.

[Richard D]

15. Oh wow . . .

. . . I am astounded by these kinds of comments. If Haniyeh wanted to negotiate the hostage release, he would have released them, months ago. He was a horrible being and the world is far better off with him not on it.

Here is a video of him and his buddies watching a live feed, and celebrating the Oct 7 attacks, which he orchestrated.

Now, here's the question: War may very well be started by Iran against Israel. Whose side will you be on when you are in private?

It's a damn good question everyone needs to ask themselves honestly,

[iemanja]

35. praying

SMH

[Richard D]

41. My poor head . . .

. . . made a dent when I slammed it onto my desk.

Iran-Russia-Pakistan-China-North Korea . . .

Iran-Syria-hezbollah-Yemen-Qatar . . .

[Beastly Boy]

20. In a post about one living despot replacing another dead despot, is this all that comes to mind?

You know what would really be helpful? It would really be helpful that the knee jerk reaction to Sinwar being appointed leader of the most notorious terrorist regime in the world would have something to do with the most notorious regime in the world.

[yardwork]

63. I've never seen anything like this. The deflection is astounding.

I'm reading this thread in disbelief. Moderates in Hamas?

Israel has been criticized for killing Palestinians instead of Hamas. Now they killed a Hamas leader and they're still being criticized. Pretty obvious what's happening here.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

59. That's silly

It's like saying that killing Bin Laden was counterproductive because he was negotiating for a ceasefire with the USA.

[AntiFascist]

80. Keep in mind that "For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas"....

all because he was against a Palestinian government that supported a two-state solution, something that both Biden and Harris support:

For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces
The premier’s policy of treating the terror group as a partner, at the expense of Abbas and Palestinian statehood, has resulted in wounds that will take Israel years to heal from

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

[EX500rider]

92. "For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas"

Didn't really have much choice, the were the governing power in Gaza.

Netanyahu on Tuesday, however, dismissed those charges, claiming he only allowed Qatari money to flow into Gaza to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe, not to strengthen the arm of the administration there.

“We wanted to avoid a civilian humanitarian collapse — disease, rampant hunger and other things that would have created an impossible humanitarian situation,” he said. “That’s why successive Israeli governments allowed this money to go in, not in order to strengthen Hamas. We didn’t want to strengthen Hamas at all. We wanted to weaken it and degrade its capabilities as far as we could.”



https://www.politico.eu/article/benjamin-netanyahu-hamas-qatar-money-war-israel-gaza-palestine/

[AntiFascist]

101. The bottom line is that Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution, Biden and Harris both support it n/t

[EX500rider]

106. That's a different statement than having to deal with the reality of who's in charge in Gaza

[The Magistrate]

3. If He's Still In Gaza, This Is Promoting von Paulus To Field Marshall In Sralingrad Once The Pincers Closed

He will be killed before this is over.

That he lives still is unfortunate....

[getagrip_already]

6. he isn't i gaza - none of the leaders are.... they left before the attack on 10/7

They knew what was coming. the last heroic leader was killed in Iran. Others are in other "safe" countries.

They'd rather all of gaza die than expose themselves to danger.

[The Magistrate]

8. It's Widely Claimed That He Is

And not impossible that is so.

[getagrip_already]

10. obviously we don't know, but it is in their interests to make israel believe he is....

so they keep pounding gaza.

Peace is not their goal.

[iemanja]

26. Peace is neither Hamas nor Israel's goal

So we have war that kills thousands of civilians.

[getagrip_already]

29. agree, I should have been clearer....

At least, it isn't netanyahu's goal. I believe the people of Israel are ready for peace, at least a majority are. As are the palestinian people, or at least most of them.

The military on both sides would rather keep going to the last civilian though.

[iemanja]

30. Agreed.

[iemanja]

13. The article says he is in Gaza.

[getagrip_already]

14. the press says a lot of things.....

Did they meet with him?

[iemanja]

16. Did you witness him in Qatar?

I can believe AP or a random person on the internet. I choose the former.

[getagrip_already]

17. you can't prove a negative....

But if the ap isn't saying they saw him, they didn't confirm it first hand. They are going on informants, which are worth a handful of warm spit in that region.

Hell, "journalists" accompanied hamas on the actual raids on 10/7.

Don't lecture me about journalists in that theater.

[iemanja]

24. I am not lecturing you

I am simply pointing out that you likewise do not have proof.

[getagrip_already]

25. I don't need it, the AP does...... nt

[LeftInTX]

60. Video emerged of him in Gaza a few months ago

[maxsolomon]

12. Interesting approach.

Appointing a man who'll never go above ground again.

[Richard D]

18. 10, 9 ,8, 7, 6 . . . (nt)

[lapucelle]

36. The New Yorker did a deep dive on Sinwar

Notes from Underground

The life of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/08/12/yahya-sinwar-profile-hamas-gaza-war-israel

No paywall:
https://archive.ph/tiI50

[Mosby]

37. The media is going to struggle with this.

They now have to acknowledge that the declared division between a political and militant Hamas was a ruse designed to manipulate western media into thinking that Hamas was something more than a terrorist group financed by Iran.

[cstanleytech]

38. Wherever he is he'll eventually be found like Bin Laden was and dealt with.

[kelly1mm]

39. Wrong thread

[truthisfreedom]

45. Somehow that feels like it's going to push buttons.

And result in catastrophe for hamas.

[Richard D]

51. Dead man walking . . .

. . . and it can't happen soon enough.

[Mosby]

55. His CV (from twitter)

In 1989, Sinwar was sentenced to four life sentences for the murder of four Palestinians, two of whom he killed with his bare hands. While in prison, he ordered the beheading of two prisoners he suspected of being informants. This earned him the nickname "The Butcher of Khan Yunis." During this time, Israeli doctors saved his life by removing a tumor from his brain. This didn't mellow his personality.

In 2006, his brother organized the abduction of Gilad Shalit in order to secure the release of Sinwar and other high-profile militants. Sinwar personally delayed the deal for years by making increasingly outlandish demands. Eventually, his authority waned and other Hamas leaders negotiated a deal without him.

In 2011, Sinwar was released in a prisoner swap in which 1,027 terrorists were exchanged for a single Israeli soldier. Those released were collectively responsible for killing at least 569 Israelis.

In 2017, he was elected as Hamas leader in Gaza, in which capacity he orchestrated and led the October 7 invasion of Israel in which 1,175 Israelis were murdered, mostly civilians, and 251 were kidnapped.

In 2024, he was elected the leader of the movement.

[LeftInTX]

61. He ugly. He the face of Hamas.

[Turbineguy]

62. That's a great idea

for getting more Palestinian civilians killed.

[Botany]

64. Hint for friends and family of Yahya Sinwar do not stand to close to him

N/t

[prodigitalson]

65. I like Tim Walz better

[iemanja]

66. Me too!

[Mysterian]

69. Find him and take him out

just like the last piece of shit.