Israeli official: Sinwar contacted movement representatives again

Tel Aviv - Ma'an - Barak Ravid, a correspondent for the American news website Axios, quoted a senior Israeli official on Monday as saying that information had reached Israel indicating that the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, had renewed contact with the movement's representatives in Qatar in recent days. The Israeli official confirmed that Sinwar had conveyed several messages to Hamas representatives in Qatar in recent days. It is not clear, according to the Israeli source, when exactly Sinwar sent the messages, but he confirmed that it was not clear in them that Sinwar changed or altered his positions regarding the kidnapped prisoners deal. In parallel, the New York Times quoted American officials as saying that Sinwar has become more entrenched in his position after nearly a year of war in Gaza, and he is determined to see Israel involved in a wider regional conflict. The New York Times quoted officials as saying that Sinwar's position has become more hardline in recent weeks, and American negotiators now believe that Hamas has no intention of reaching an agreement with Israel. The officials added that Hamas has shown no desire at all to enter into talks in recent weeks, and they indicated that Sinwar believes that a larger war, if it occurred, would put pressure on Israel and its army and force it to reduce operations in Gaza. Source: Maan News Agency