“We have the Israelis right where we want them,” Hamas’ Gaza chief Yayha Sinwar told his leadership in Qatar. Sinwar certainly has the US and EU where he wants them — running interference against the Israelis on his behalf. As the Wall Street Journal reports this morning, civilian deaths in Gaza play a large role in Sinwar’s strategic calculations.
Not that this will surprise anyone:
For months, Yahya Sinwar has resisted pressure to cut a ceasefire-and-hostages deal with Israel. Behind his decision, messages the Hamas military leader in Gaza has sent to mediators show, is a calculation that more fighting—and more Palestinian civilian deaths—work to his advantage. …
In dozens of messages—reviewed by The Wall Street Journal—that Sinwar has transmitted to cease-fire negotiators, Hamas compatriots outside Gaza and others, he’s shown a cold disregard for human life and made…
