Sinwar found with hostage negotiation documents at time of death

Top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an IDF operation in Rafah last Wednesday, was in possession of documents related to the hostage negotiation deal at the time of his death. 

Israeli news site N12 reported that Sinwar’s nephew, who was killed along with him, had many documents about Hamas' internal affairs with him that may provide useful intelligence to the IDF as it continues its fight against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. 

A copy of the latest hostage deal proposal, which had been forwarded to Sinwar via Qatari mediators, was reportedly included in those documents. 

Ynet News wrote that finding the documents with Sinwar is proof that he was actively considering the deal, even in the last few weeks before his death and despite the lack of any breakthrough. 

The document presents agreed-upon areas as a single uniform text, while areas of the proposal that had not been received in the agreement were presented in two facing columns, with the Israeli proposal on one side and the Hamas proposal (called the "Palestinian proposal") on the other. 

Ynet claimed that most of the existing gaps between Israel and Hamas on the hostage release deal had to do with the exchange of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail for Israeli hostages in Gaza. Israel wanted a veto over certain prisoners convicted for murder or terror attacks, while Hamas did not agree. 

While Hamas initially demanded the temporary ceasefire be permanent, the documents appear to show they were willing to push the discussion of a permanent ceasefire into the second of three stages in the talks. 

The Ynet article claimed that most of the changed demands from the proposal offered by U.S. President Joe Biden in early July came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was unwilling to agree to a permanent ceasefire that would leave Hamas in power in Gaza.

Ynet quoted a “senior defense official” who claimed the hostage deal could have been secured at that time. 

“It is solid ground for a possible deal,” the official said. “There are gaps, some of them not simple, but they could have been resolved had Israel not insisted – the prime minister insisted – on burdening it with difficulties, after which Hamas added its own. Had Israel not done so, we might have been after the deal today and during its implementation.” 

However, this assessment runs counter to statements made by Netanyahu that Hamas had raised objections and insisted on “dozens of changes” to the proposal after its release. 

Following Sinwar’s death, and the lack of clear leadership of Hamas forces in Gaza, it is unclear who Israel should approach to reach an agreement. 

In an interview with Radio 103FM, Rami Igra, former head of Mossad's POW/MIA Division, cast doubt on the ability to secure a deal in the near term. 

“Hamas is not just leaders, it is a religious jihadist movement that believes in the destruction of the State of Israel,” Igra said. 

Even after Sinwar’s death, Igra said Hamas was not willing to capitulate. 

“Khalil al-Hayya [deputy chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau] said upon Sinwar's death that the only way they were willing to talk was to end the war and restore its [Hamas] rule,” Igra stated, noting that “Qatar is Hamas, and also Egypt – none of the mediators has any way of influencing Hamas.”

In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Hamas Political Bureau member Husam Badran said Hamas leaders are considering a deal that would include the swapping of dead Palestinian terrorists for dead hostages. 

Badran told Al-Jazeera that “there is no doubt that we are interested in returning the bodies of all the Palestinians killed, and Sinwar is definitely one of them. In previous rounds of negotiations, issues were raised regarding prisoners held by Israel, as well as the bodies held by Israel. However, it is too early to talk about the details of the negotiations, we are still at the height of the campaign with Israel.”