Assassination of Sinwar and Deif
Security Scandal: Shin Bet Supported Plan to Eliminate Hamas Leaders, But Politicians Said No
Senior IDF officers testified that the political leadership repeatedly blocked large-scale operational plans in 2022 and 2023 to assassinate top Hamas terrorists Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif, prioritizing the maintenance of peace over long-term security.
The revelation comes as part of testimony presented to the investigative committee led by Major General (res.) Sami Turgeman. According to the reported testimony, a comprehensive Israeli plan aimed at assassinating the two top Hamas commanders was thwarted by the political echelon on at least two separate occasions.
Initiatives Canceled Due to Misconception
The testimony details that the IDF's Southern Command formulated a large-scale operational initiative in 2022 and again in 2023. This plan was expansive, encompassing targeted assassinations of the terror chiefs, attacks on critical combat infrastructure, and limited ground maneuvers within the Gaza Strip.
Officials within the Shin Bet security agency reportedly expressed strong support for the operational plan, especially given the severe terrorist attacks emanating from Gaza and the inflammatory, public calls for incitement frequently made by Sinwar.
However, the political echelon consistently refrained from approving the initiative. The primary reason cited was a determined effort to avoid a deliberate escalation and to maintain peace in the Gaza Strip "at almost any cost."
Senior officers who testified before the committee described the failure to act as the result of a profound "misconception," a policy that they believe "led to the cancellation of initiatives that could have changed the course of events." The prevailing policy pursued by the government, as told to the witnesses, was focused on leaving Hamas rule intact.
The testimonies further indicate that even in instances where initial planning received the necessary approval from the Chief of Staff, the political echelon ultimately withheld a final decision. This lack of decisive action effectively hindered the advancement and implementation of a critical operation aimed at decapitating the Hamas leadership. The decision to prioritize short-term quiet over long-term security consequences is now being scrutinized as a significant contributing factor to later events.