By In October 2024, following the death of H@mas leader Yahya Sinwar in an Isr*eli airstrike, a series of handwritten documents attributed to him were uncovered. These notes, published by the P@lestinian newspaper Al-Quds, are believed to be Sinwar’s final directives concerning Isr*eli hostages held in G@za.
The documents emphasize the strategic importance of the hostages, instructing H@mas members to “take care of the lives of enemy prisoners and secure them, since they are the bargaining chip in our hands.” Sinwar highlighted that safeguarding these prisoners is crucial for negotiating the release of P@lestinian detainees from Isr*eli jails.
He also indicated that those fulfilling this duty would be rewarded. Additionally, the notes provide detailed information about the hostages, including their numbers and locations within G@za. One page lists 112 hostages distributed across areas such as G@za City, the central G@za Strip, and Rafah.
The documents also contain names, ages, genders, and statuses (e.g., soldier or civilian) of the captives, reflecting meticulous record-keeping. These revelations offer insight into H@mas’s approach to leveraging hostages for political and strategic gains, underscoring the complex dynamics of the conflict and the organization’s negotiation tactics.
