A senior Israeli security official exchanged, in a secret briefing, his thoughts on the escalating efforts to locate Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. The official revealed that "there are significant intelligence efforts underway to track Sinwar," emphasizing his underestimation of the strength of the Israeli army and his shock at the recent military operations in Shefa.

According to the "Jerusalem Post" newspaper, security forces are now focusing on the southern Gaza Strip, with the expectation that operations in areas such as Khan Yunis and Rafah will be more effective than the previous fighting in northern Gaza. These operations, targeting Hamas control centers, aim to achieve the objectives of the war and dismantle the organizational and military capabilities of the group.

In a separate high-level security discussion, it was claimed that eliminating Sinwar could significantly change the dynamics of the hostage release. The source pointed out that "a major intelligence operation focused on Sinwar's whereabouts," confirming the importance of this mission.

The security establishment is preparing for imminent military achievements against Hamas, which are expected to weaken the grip of both Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, the head of the military wing, on their ground forces.

The senior security official described Sinwar as a person "who holds a messianic view but acts smartly." He condemned Sinwar’s actions, saying: "He is a harsh man, a killer. He executed Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel by strangulation."

The official criticized Sinwar's failure to advance the issue of prisoners and the missing with Israel before October 7, saying: "He failed to make progress on this front."

Furthermore, the official pointed to Sinwar’s strategic mistakes: "Sinwar assumed that confrontation areas in the West Bank, inside Israel, and Lebanon would unite against us. He was wrong." He also noted Sinwar’s underestimation of Israel’s resilience and the Israeli army's response, adding: "He is still shocked by the maneuvering in Gaza and certainly by the destruction of the tunnels in Shefa, Gaza, and other locations."