Sinwar Back From the Grave
BREAKING: Hamas Demands Bodies of Sinwar Brothers in Trump-Backed Peace Talks
Hamas seeks return of Yahya and Mohammed Sinwar's remains as condition for US-backed Gaza peace negotiations, along with release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas is reportedly demanding that Israel turn over the bodies of the terror group's slain leaders, Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed Sinwar, as a condition for advancing the US-backed Gaza peace plan.
The request, which Arab mediators relayed to The Wall Street Journal, places a macabre and politically charged obstacle into the implementation of the comprehensive framework proposed by US President Donald Trump. The Journal noted that Israel has already previously rejected the request.
The Sinwars: Architects of War
The demand for the remains of the two commanders, both of whom were central figures in Hamas's leadership and terrorist actions, highlights their continued symbolic importance to the terror organization:
Yahya Sinwar was the former Hamas leader and alleged architect of the October 7, 2023, attack, and was killed by the IDF in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah in October last year. His brother, Mohammed Sinwar was his successor as the head of Hamas’s military wing, and was killed in an Israeli airstrike less than a year later, in May of this year.
High-Profile Prisoner Release Also Sought
Beyond the bodies of the Sinwar brothers, Hamas is simultaneously pressing for the release of several high-profile Palestinian terrorist prisoners as part of any deal.
An Egyptian source familiar with the negotiation details told the Saudi state-owned Asharq Al-Awsat that the list of requested prisoners includes major figures such as: Abdullah Barghouti; Marwan Barghouti and Hassan Salameh.
Hamas is also expected to seek the release of Ahmad Sa’adat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas al-Sayed, signaling a comprehensive effort to empty Israeli prisons of long-serving terror figures in exchange for cooperation on the peace plan.