IDF Chief Of Staff Says New Positions Don't Stop Israel From Hunting Yahya Sinwar

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Israeli Chief of Staff Defense Forces (IDF) Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Yahya Sinwa's new position did not stop Israel from hunting him down, judging him as responsible for the attack on the southern region of the country last October.

Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier this week announced the election of Yahya Sinwar as the new Head of Political Bureau replacing Ismail Haniyeh who was killed.

Lt. Gen. Halevi said Sinwar's new position would not stop Israel from hunting down Yahya Sinwar.

"Yahya Sinwar yesterday accepted a new position, he is the Head of the Hamas Political Bureau. This title, which is political in nature, will not free him from the fact that he is a murderer involved in the entire planning and implementation of events on October 7, and therefore the change in his title will not only prevent us from looking for him, but rather spur us," said Lieutenant General Halevi, as reported by The Times of Israel on August 8.

At least 1,200 people were killed and 250 others arrested as hostages, as Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas attacked the southern region of the country on October 7, 2023.

In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes, blockades and ground operations in the Gaza region.

Gaza's medical sources on Wednesday reported that at least 24 civilians were killed by 110 others injured as a result of Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, quoted from WAFA.

That brings the death toll in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks since the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023, which has reached 39,677 people, while injuries have reached 91,645.

Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his place of night in Tehran last week, after attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last Tuesday.

Hamas also announced the appointment of Sinwar as Head of Political Bureau replacing Haniyeh.

"We will try to find him, attack him, and (corresponding to Hamas) replace the head of the political bureau once again," said Lt. Gen. Halevi.

Israel is on high alert, following an attack that killed senior military commander Hezbollah Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon last week.

A day after, Hamas Political Bureau Head Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Tehran, Iran, after attending the inauguration of the elected president Masoud Pezeshkian.

In contrast to claims against the attack in Beirut, Israel did not respond to the attack on Tehran. Iran and Hamas said Israel was linked to the killing of Haniyeh. However, the two events have added to the tension in the Middle East which has heated up due to the conflict in Gaza.