Baskin, who played a key role in the 2011 negotiations that secured the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including Sinwar himself, described the current situation as “a moment of either opportunity or doom.” He explained that if the rumors are true, the fate of the remaining 101 hostages in Gaza, at least 60 of whom are thought to be alive, could be dire.

“A moment of doom because there are rumors that Sinwar instructed people holding hostages that, should he be killed, they should kill their hostages,” Baskin told The Telegraph. He added that although the rumors are not confirmed, they should be taken “seriously” in light of recent incidents where hostages were killed. In August, Hamas killed six Israeli hostages in Rafah after the IDF approached the tunnel in Gaza where they were being held.