In a desperate bid for survival, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has reportedly been surrounding himself with the last remaining hostages in Gaza.

According to the Jewish Chronicle, out of the 108 hostages believed to be held in Gaza, only around 20 are still alive under Hamas’ direct control. These captives are reportedly being held underground with Sinwar, who has been in hiding since the October 7 massacre on Israel.

The situation has created a complex dilemma for Israeli forces. Despite locating the tunnels where Sinwar is hiding on multiple occasions, attacks were not authorized due to the high risk of harming the hostages.

For now, negotiations for the hostages’ release have hit numerous roadblocks.

Hamas’ main demands reportedly include an end to the war, complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and guarantees for his personal safety. These conditions stand in stark contrast to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated vows to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed.

Meanwhile, smaller terrorist groups under Sinwar’s control are allegedly starting to rebel. These groups include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Mujahideen Brigades, the al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.

While Sinwar prioritizes the release of Hamas prisoners, these smaller factions are demanding representation for their own hostages. They’re also taking a harder line in negotiations, insisting on the release of all dangerous Arab prisoners from Israeli jails, including 1,236 individuals sentenced to life for murder.