After a yearlong manhunt, including help from U.S. intelligence agencies, Israeli troops stumbled upon him during a routine patrol, Israeli officials said. Yahya Sinwar in Gaza city on Oct. 18, 2017. Now a cease-fire, the return of hostages and even the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces from Gaza could be within reach, former officials said. One of the hostages Hamas took on Oct. 7 was an 85-year-old peace activist, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was later released. She told to the Israeli newspaper Davar about encountering Sinwar in the maze of tunnels under Gaza.

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Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Bruce Riedel, ” Sinwar, Atia Darwish, Sinwar, Biden, ” Dennis Ross, Ross, they’re, Antony Blinken, ” “, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Aaron David Miller, Netanyahu, Sinwar’s, Burcu Ozcelik, Israel, Ghaith Al, Yocheved Lifshitz Organizations: Israel, Hamas, CIA, Biden, Washington Institute for Near, Israel Defense Forces, Gaza, United Arab, State, Carnegie Endowment, International, Royal United Services Institute, Lebanese, Hezbollah Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, U.S, Lebanon, United States, United Arab Emirates, London, Palestinian, Hamas, Qatar