Hamas seeks to entangle Israel in a ‘bigger war’ – NYT
According to a report by NYT, Yahya Sinwar has expressed a desire for Hezbollah and Iran to divert Israel's focus from Gaza, as stated by various sources. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is reportedly counting on Israel becoming distracted and scaling back operations in Gaza, according to a Friday report by the New York Times, which cites US intelligence sources. These sources believe that a "bigger war" in the Middle East could draw West Jerusalem's attention away, compelling the Israel Defense Forces to redirect their focus away from Gaza to confront other challenges.
Next week marks the first anniversary of Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, prompting the latter to declare war on the militant group and impose a near-total siege on Gaza. Since then, indirect negotiations in Qatar aimed at establishing a cease-fire have transpired multiple times but have yet to yield any substantial results.
Insiders who spoke to the newspaper indicated that these discussions are unlikely to make meaningful progress soon, with Hamas’s new leader, Sinwar, allegedly “having no intention of reaching a deal” with Israel. While some Israeli officials have speculated about Sinwar’s status, NYT sources noted that the US lacks evidence to support any doubts regarding his well-being.
The sources describe Sinwar as a considerably more “inflexible” negotiator than his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly assassinated in Tehran this past summer, allegedly at the hands of Israel. Sinwar has reportedly opted to refrain from engaging in the current phase of conflict, anticipating that Israel might redirect its military efforts toward Iran and Hezbollah, thereby allowing Hamas a chance to recover.
Both Iran and Hezbollah have shown support for Hamas during this conflict, although their direct military involvement has thus far been limited. Recently, tensions escalated, particularly after Israel announced a “new phase” in its war against militant groups and initiated a ground operation in Lebanon following the alleged assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In retaliation, Iran launched a massive missile strike against Israel earlier this week.
According to US officials cited by the NYT, Israeli operations in Gaza are “slowing,” with the Israel Defense Forces now maintaining only a few positions in the area. They noted that Israel faced significant challenges in southern Lebanon and indicated that Sinwar’s purported strategy might succeed, potentially putting Israel in a position of confronting a "multifront war" if hostilities remain “intense.” However, there is skepticism regarding whether Iran will escalate to a full-scale war with Israel, given the severe consequences that would follow.
Scott Berrier, former head of the US Defense Intelligence Agency, remarked, “Iran will hold a grudge for Nasrallah’s killing. But their options are limited. I don’t see Iran going toe to toe with Israel anytime soon.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Next week marks the first anniversary of Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, prompting the latter to declare war on the militant group and impose a near-total siege on Gaza. Since then, indirect negotiations in Qatar aimed at establishing a cease-fire have transpired multiple times but have yet to yield any substantial results.
Insiders who spoke to the newspaper indicated that these discussions are unlikely to make meaningful progress soon, with Hamas’s new leader, Sinwar, allegedly “having no intention of reaching a deal” with Israel. While some Israeli officials have speculated about Sinwar’s status, NYT sources noted that the US lacks evidence to support any doubts regarding his well-being.
The sources describe Sinwar as a considerably more “inflexible” negotiator than his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly assassinated in Tehran this past summer, allegedly at the hands of Israel. Sinwar has reportedly opted to refrain from engaging in the current phase of conflict, anticipating that Israel might redirect its military efforts toward Iran and Hezbollah, thereby allowing Hamas a chance to recover.
Both Iran and Hezbollah have shown support for Hamas during this conflict, although their direct military involvement has thus far been limited. Recently, tensions escalated, particularly after Israel announced a “new phase” in its war against militant groups and initiated a ground operation in Lebanon following the alleged assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In retaliation, Iran launched a massive missile strike against Israel earlier this week.
According to US officials cited by the NYT, Israeli operations in Gaza are “slowing,” with the Israel Defense Forces now maintaining only a few positions in the area. They noted that Israel faced significant challenges in southern Lebanon and indicated that Sinwar’s purported strategy might succeed, potentially putting Israel in a position of confronting a "multifront war" if hostilities remain “intense.” However, there is skepticism regarding whether Iran will escalate to a full-scale war with Israel, given the severe consequences that would follow.
Scott Berrier, former head of the US Defense Intelligence Agency, remarked, “Iran will hold a grudge for Nasrallah’s killing. But their options are limited. I don’t see Iran going toe to toe with Israel anytime soon.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
