“Fluttering through the skies above Gaza were Israeli military fliers asking for information on the whereabouts of top Hamas leaders. The fliers offered bounties and promised the end of Hamas, targeting Yahya Sinwar as the leader of the Oct. 7 attack. Despite the military campaign, Israeli officials have yet to locate Sinwar and other senior Hamas figures. Prominent figures targeted include Mohammed Deif, Rafi Salameh, and Mohammed Sinwar, with bounties ranging from $100,000 to $400,000.

Conversely, Hamas has eluded Israel’s attempts to find them, potentially reviving the group’s capabilities after the war. Despite spending over twenty years in prison in Israel, the senior leader, Yahya Sinwar was released in 2011 and returned to Gaza with a mission to free unjustly held Palestinians. His return to Gaza resulted in managing swaps of captives with Israel.

The elusiveness of top Hamas figures challenges the expectations of a growing international community urging a cease-fire and Israeli officials claiming progress in degrading Hamas.”