Shin Bet sought government approval for strike on Hamas leader Sinwar 5 times since 2011 – report

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Since Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was released from prison back to the Gaza Strip in the Gilad Shalit exchange in 2011, there have been multiple attempts by the Shin Bet to get the government to approve a strike on him, according to Yedioth Ahronoth’s Nadav Eyal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vetoed the killing of Sinwar five times, Eyal writes, looking to avoid sparking a war with Hamas.

During his candidacy, Naftali Bennett actively looked into the idea. After the terror attack in Elad in May 2022, according to the report, the Shin Bet again pushed a plan to assassinate Hamas’s leader, but the IDF opposed it.

Then-defense minister Benny Gantz was also against a strike, believing Hamas was deterred.

Eyal does not cite a source, but the piece does appear to reflect the Shin Bet placing responsibility on the political leadership.

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