‘Broken on a mental and physical level’: Gallant reveals document from top Hamas commander warning Sinwar of dire losses
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reveals a document he says was written by the former commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, Rafa’a Salameh, and addressed to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad, in which the commander describes the “difficult situation” the terror group is in.
“Please consider the following: We maintain the remaining weapons and equipment, as we have lost 90-95% of our rocket capabilities; and we have lost some 60% of our personal weapons; we have lost at least 65-70% of our anti-tank launchers and rockets, and most importantly that we have lost at least 50% of our fighters between those who are martyred and wounded, and now we are left with 25%. The last 25% of our people have reached a situation where the people do not tolerate them anymore, broken on a mental or physical level,” the document says, according to excerpts provided and translated by the Defense Ministry.
Gallant says the document shows “a real hardship that affects Hamas and affects the most senior commanders.”
He says Salameh, who was killed in an IDF strike in July, “cries out for the help of the Sinwar brothers, but of course they cannot save him.”
“Why? Because we are continuing the effort that started in October and continues step by step… and reaches all senior Hamas officials. He wrote this to the Sinwar brothers, we will get to them as well,” Gallant says.
Yahya Sinwar is the leader of Hamas in Gaza, and was recently appointed as the head of the terror group following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. His brother Muhammad is a senior commander in Hamas’s military wing.