Hamas leader’s ‘days are numbered’: Israeli minister

JERUSALEM

Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant has threatened the life of Gaza-based Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, saying his “days are numbered”, Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

“Let me be clear: Sinwar’s days are numbered. He won’t pass away of old age at home,” Gallant said at a conference organized by the newspaper.

Israel, the minister asserted, is “ready to wage a large-scale operation in Gaza if necessary. Hamas should reconsider whether it wants to fight Israel or maintain the calm seen over the past week”.

“Look at what Israel has done over the past 10 years,” Gallant said. “We imposed a sea blockade on Gaza; we disrupted movement between Gaza and Sinai; our Iron Dome [missile-defense system] has performed well against rockets [fired from Gaza]; and we are eliminating all [of Gaza’s cross-border] tunnels”.

“If they want a fight, we will defeat them,” he added, “and if they want to behave and talk through a third party, we will hear them.”

“War is our last option, but we will prevail,” Gallant added. “And Hamas would pay the price.”

Within the last 10 days, at least 14 Palestinians across blockaded Gaza have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and artillery.

Early last week, an Israeli officer was killed -- and another injured -- during a botched ground incursion into the Hamas-run coastal enclave.

The violence eased slightly last Tuesday after an Egypt-brokered ceasefire deal came into effect between Israel and Hamas-led resistance factions.