Many Israelis blamed Netanyahu for the October 7, 2023 attack
It was also Netanyahu that agreed to release Sinwar from an Israeli jail in a 2011 prisoner swap – a decision that came to haunt him
Originally Posted by Kangaroo Don
1,027murderous Palestinian prisoners who were collectively responsible for 569 Israeli deaths including the 07 October 2023 massacre mastermind Yahya Sinwar for One Israeli soldier
In fairness,
Originally Posted by Hollander
At the time a poll showed 79% of Israelis supporting the deal, with 14% opposed. Among those released were militants involved in planning and executing suicide bombings in restaurants and on buses during the years of the second Palestinian uprising, which began in 2000.
Harel Chorev, senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, told CNN
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“Netanyahu didn’t want to be remembered as the one who just brought about October 7, 2023 but also the one who won the war of October 7
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I think for Netanyahu, this might be a major achievement”
“And if Netanyahu’s wise, he will leave the office afterwards”
But while Sinwar’s killing may have brought Hamas to perhaps its weakest moment, destroying the militant group will not by itself guarantee a peaceful future
Israel has killed several Hamas leaders in the past and the group has always managed to recover
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim alluded to the group’s determination to keep fighting, saying on Thursday
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while Sinwar’s death was “painful and distressing” the group would be “eventually victorious”
Meanwhile, Israel’s intense bombardment and deadly ground operation has turned most of Gaza into a wasteland Thousands of children have been orphaned, maimed and traumatized
Israel now needs to ensure they can have a better future – otherwise it risks creating another generation susceptible to radicalization
