Iran Press/West Asia: According to a report by Wall Street Journal, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was at one stage offered the chance to leave Gaza in exchange for allowing Egypt to negotiate on behalf of Hamas for a hostage deal, but Sinwar rejected the offer.
“I’m not under siege, I’m on Palestinian soil,” Sinwar reportedly told Arab mediators in response to the proposal, soon after the start of the war.
According to the report, Sinwar accepted that he was likely to be killed and according to mediators, suggested that Hamas choose a leadership council to govern and manage the transition after his martyrdom.
In a message to prepare for his possible death, Sinwar warned that Israel would offer concessions if he was killed but that Hamas should not give in, Wall Street Journal reported quoted by Times of Israel.
The report said that Benjamin Netanyahu in many cases tried to assassinate Sinwar and his military chief Muhammad Deif.
205
