According to Palestinian reports, when Israel announced its intention to enter the Gaza Strip, the head of the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, and other senior Hamas officials - left Gaza City and began moving towards Khan Yunis, it was published in Maariv.
According to estimates, Sinwar was transported in one of the aid vehicles, while managing to hide his identity. Since then he and the other senior members of the terrorist organization have been staying in the command tunnels of the Khan Yunis Brigade, except for those related to the organization's political arm, which he does not 100% trust.
In the place where he is staying, according to estimates in the Palestinian media, some of the Israeli abductees are being held, as well as Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades terrorists, whose goal is to guard Sinwar if IDF soldiers discover the hiding place and try to enter the tunnels and kill him.
During the ceasefire reached as part of the hostage deal, he became more cautious, stopped moving, and stopped communicating with outside parties. Now, he believes that time is on his side, following the latest moves approved by the War Cabinet, including fuel supply. In addition, Sinwar recognized disagreements in the Israeli leadership regarding the day after the war.
Following this, Sinwar plans to extend the fighting above the ground to force the Israeli forces to leave the Gaza Strip, without the control of the Strip being transferred to another entity.
According to Palestinian reports, Sinwar closely monitors the Israeli media and makes his decisions based on what he hears. Sinwar believes that the Israelis are particularly sensitive to any loss of one of their soldiers in battle, and he believes, according to one of his acquaintances quoted in the Palestinian media, that he can make the IDF leave the Gaza Strip before its hiding place is found. This is the reason that he continues to reject any proposal for a ceasefire.
The Palestinian media point out that Sinwar believes that if Israel finds his location, he will have time to recalculate his steps. In his estimation, the Israelis will have to negotiate at the entrance of the steel doors before deciding whether to reach it and endanger soldiers. As a last resort, he believes that by holding the captives he will be able to obtain immunity and escape to another country if necessary.