US officials said to believe Sinwar hardening stance in hostage talks

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has hardened his stance in the hostage talks in recent weeks, unnamed US officials tell The New York Times.

Somewhat paradoxically, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said twice this week that the US hasn’t heard from Hamas in recent weeks.

Nonetheless, the US officials speaking with The Times say that Sinwar has become more fatalistic — an accusation that has been lobbed at Sinwar since October 7 — and prefers a full-blown regional war over cutting a hostage deal with Israel at this stage.

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