Hamas's Yahya Sinwar welcomed apocalyptic nuclear war if it meant destroying Israel – analysis

A recently released handwritten document by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, dated August 24, 2022, indicates his willingness to risk an Israeli nuclear response to achieve Israel's destruction. The document, obtained by Israel during the Gaza conflict and released by the Amit Terrorism and Intelligence Research Institute, reveals Sinwar anticipated a severe Israeli reaction to an invasion, including the potential use of nuclear weapons. Sinwar wrote, "The enemy will not hesitate to use all the means and weapons at its disposal... It may even use a nuclear bomb." This mindset, which prioritizes Israel's destruction over Gaza's survival, suggests a fanaticism that renders concepts like Mutual Assured Destruction irrelevant. The analysis draws parallels to Osama bin Laden's motivations for 9/11, highlighting a willingness among some Islamist actors to accept self-destruction for a perceived divinely ordained mission, a perspective Israel believes the world must understand when assessing regional threats like Iran.