Israel continues hunt for Sinwar; intelligence indicates he is hiding among population dressed as woman

US allegedly actively aiding search for Sinwar in hopes of locating American hostages

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Recent Israeli intelligence reports indicate that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has fled the terror tunnels beneath Gaza and is hiding among the Palestinian population “dressed as a woman.”

On Sunday evening, Brig.-Gen. Dan Goldfus, the retiring commander of the IDF's 98th Division during its Gaza War operations told British news site Daily Express that Israeli troops came within minutes of catching Sinwar about 10 days ago.

“We were close,” Goldfus said. “We were in his underground compound. The coffee was still hot.”

Since then, the 61-year-old abandoned the tunnels and has been hiding in plain sight, according to intelligence officials who told the Daily Express that they believe Sinwar moves among the displaced Palestinians in Gaza, dressed as a woman to evade Israeli forces.

Shalom Ben Hanan, who worked for Israel’s Shin Bet (security agency), said: “We have actually been minutes away more than once,” and that Sinwar is unwilling to stay “underground in tunnels or special underground zones for more than 24 to 36 hours at a time.”

“He knows we can find such underground locations through advanced technology,” Ben Hanan stated. “And he knows if a mistake is made or we find sources to tell us where he is, we will get him. He needs to be on the move to avoid that mistake becoming fatal for him.”

Following the successful killing of Sinwar’s right-hand man, Mohammed Deif, the Hamas leader has reportedly stopped using electronic means of communication over fears that Israel could detect his location.

Intelligence officials believe the top Hamas leader in Gaza delivers instructions through human couriers, with messages passing through “many hands.”

Ben Hanan said a future strike to eliminate Sinwar would likely be similar to the one that eliminated Deif in July.

“We had to check our information several times and even at the last few minutes, to ensure he [Deif] was still inside,” Ben Hanan said. “The Prime Minister himself had to give the go-ahead. It will be the same with Sinwar.”

“Everybody makes mistakes - just as Deif did,” Ben Hanan continued. “Mr. Sinwar will be killed.”

Israeli military officials reportedly believe Sinwar's death will sufficiently destabilize Hamas, potentially leading to an easier victory and possibly removing the group as a future threat in the Gaza Strip.

According to The New York Times, the United States has been actively assisting Israel in the search for Sinwar and even provided Israel with ground-penetrating radar equipment to help in the search for the elusive Hamas leader.

The Biden administration hopes that such support will lead to the rescue or release of American hostages who have been held in Hamas captivity since the terror attack last October.

Saudi news site Asharq al-Awsat reported that Sinwar is insisting that his life be spared, as part of the hostage negotiation deal.

However, as Israeli operations against Hamas continue, Sinwar is running out of places to hide.