Yahya Sinwar is the Hamas leader inside Gaza who allegedly plotted the October 7th attacks. According to private messages reviewed by the WSJ, Sinwar believes that a rising Palestinian death toll—and the international condemnation it brings—is in the best interest of his cause. WSJ’s Rory Jones walks us through Sinwar’s strategy.

Further Reading:

- Gaza Chief’s Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas 

- The Hamas Leader Who Studied Israel’s Psyche—and Is Betting His Life on What He Learned 

Further Listening: 

- Why Israel and Hamas Could Be Headed Into a Forever War 

- Inside the White House's Scramble to Avert a Bigger Middle East War 

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