Leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s leader in Gaza, has told Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth that he does not want another war with Israel.
“A new war is in no one's interest; it’s certainly not in our interest. Who really wants to confront a nuclear superpower with four slingshots?” Sinwar said in an interview with the newspaper.
“War doesn't achieve anything,” he added.
Sinwar went on to say he had decided to give an interview -- to an Israeli newspaper no less -- because he now sees “a true opportunity for change”.
The interview was conducted by a Jewish journalist holding dual Israeli-Italian nationality.
Journalist Francesca Borri spent five days in the Gaza Strip, where she conducted Sinwar's first interview ever as Hamas leader in Gaza with an Israeli media outlet.
A 2016 military aid package agreed upon between the U.S. and Israel went into force on Tuesday. The deal, signed under the Obama administration, will provide Israel with $38 billion in U.S. military financing from 2019 to 2028. It is the largest such aid package in U.S. history. The move also expands a stockpile of U.S. weapons kept in Israel.“The United States will set funding for Israel at levels of $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for cooperative programs for missile defense over each of the next 10 years,” State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a written statement.“Israel is a valuable and capable ally to the United States that today faces dangerously escalating regional threats, first and foremost from the Iranian regime's sponsorship of terrorist groups seeking to attack not only Israel but also American interests. The United States unconditionally affirms Israel's right to self-defense.”The package “reflects the enduring and unshakable commitment of the President, this Administration, and the American people to Israel's security.”Israel slowly encroaching all of JerusalemPackage to boost Israel’s military capabilitiesThe foreign military financing will enable Israel to advance its military capabilities with possible purchases of new long-range missile defense systems, ballistic missiles and warplanes.The funding is enough for the purchase of almost 450 F-35 fighter jets, 9,000 tanks, various missiles and hundreds of thousands of arms and munitions. Washington’s move has been evaluated as a clear challenge for other regional powers such as Turkey.Eastern Mediterranean being targetedThe move has been evaluated as an effort to actualize the map in which Iraq and Syria’s underground resources provide maritime access through Israel.“The U.S. is not cutting back on anything to sow the seeds of a Great Israel state. Both financially and militarily, the U.S. is strengthening Israel. Another aim of this financial aid is to make Israel be able to control the energy reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean,” an unnamed source said.With its new financial resources, Israel will be able to fund subcontracted terrorist organizations more easily. There are also claims that the enormous funds will be provided by Saudi Arabia.The U.S. unequivocally supports Israel’s attacks that target Russia and Iran in Syria. The funding package can also be viewed as a part of Israel’s agenda against Russia and Iran, who are gaining influence in the region. Israel was responsible for the downing of a Russian intelligence plane in Syria, and following this, Russia dispatched the S-300 missile system, demonstrating that Moscow would continue its activities in the region.US enforces $38bln military aid package to help Israel fight ‘Iran-sponsored terrorists’U.S. considered increasing funding packageIn late February, U.S. senators even called for an increase in the $38 billion in military aid. Senators Lindsey Graham, a leading Republican foreign policy figure, and Chris Coons, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that they considered the provision of $38 billion over 10 years, “a floor.”Explicit supportAccording to data obtained from the U.S. Congress, the amount of aid sent to Israel to date is over $130 billion. In 2007, a two-year aid package agreement was signed between the two countries during George W. Bush's presidency. A total of $30 billion of this agreement covered the period between 2009 and 2018. Obama made another similar agreement with Israel in 2016, and signed a memorandum of understanding covering the years between 2019 and 2028.Israel claims to arrest Hamas cell over attack plotIsrael detains 7 Palestinians in West Bank raidsIsraeli PM to be grilled on graft allegations on Friday
US preparing Israel for war
Borri wrote after conducting the interview: “When I tell people I met Sinwar, the first question I'm asked is, ‘Where did you meet? Inside a tunnel? In a secret bunker deep underground?’ No, I reply. Most of our meetings were in his office in Gaza City.”
The full text of the interview will be published -- in Yedioth Ahronoth and Italian daily La Repubblica -- on Friday.
Asked whether he wanted to continue fighting Israel, Sinwar replied: “I'm not saying I won't fight anymore. I'm saying I don't want any more wars.”
“What I want is an end to the siege [of the Gaza Strip]. My first commitment is to act in the interest of my people; to protect them and defend their right to freedom and independence,” he said.
According to Sinwar, Israel -- which has imposed the siege for the last 12 years -- is to blame for the recent escalations along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.
“The responsibility lies with those who sealed the borders -- not those who have tried to reopen them,” he said.
A Palestinian teenager was martyred on Wednesday by Israeli gunfire during a protest in northern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.Ahmed Samir Abu-Hubl, 15, was shot in the head by Israeli occupation forces, the ministry said in a brief statement.Dozens of Palestinians staged a protest late Wednesday at Erez border crossing in the northern part of the enclave.In an earlier statement, the ministry said that 15 people were injured by the Israeli army gunfire and affected by teargas shells.
Palestinian boy martyred in northern Gaza Strip
“My responsibility is to cooperate with anyone who can help us put an end to the siege,” he added. “In the current situation, an explosion is inevitable.”
In regards to recent ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, Sinwar said: “The agreement doesn't exist yet, but Hamas -- and almost all the other Palestinian factions -- are willing to sign and honor it.”
“But at the moment, there's only the [Israeli] occupation,” he added. “It's important to make it clear: If we're attacked we will defend ourselves, as always. And we will have another war.”
Sinwar also stressed the need for an extensive prisoner exchange in any future agreement with Israel, describing this as “absolutely vital”.
“This isn't a political question; it's a moral question. I see it as an obligation. I'll do whatever it takes to secure the release of anyone who is still in prison [i.e. Palestinians in Israeli custody],” he said.
Hamas, meanwhile, has yet to officially comment on the assertions made in the interview.