Nephew of former Israeli dentist who treated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in prison being held hostage in Gaza

Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' political chief in Gaza (Photo: Getty)AFP via Getty Images

It was at Nafha Prison where Bitton, who worked first as a dentist and then as head of the Israeli Prison Service intelligence division, came to know the notorious terrorist group leader.

Bitton said: “I was against Sinwar being released. I spent a lot of time with him, [and] it was clear to me that he would rise to the top within Hamas.

“I know how cruel he is, I have never underestimated his abilities. But unfortunately, others have. He knows us very well, he follows Israeli society, our politics, our debates.”

Bitton said Sinwar, who was incarcerated at Nafha for 22 years, learned Hebrew and studied Israeli history and politics while in prison.

During a medical check-up at the prison in 2004, doctors also discovered that Sinwar had a brain tumour and, in 2008, they were able to surgically remove it.

Speaking to The Mirror in another interview, Bitton said: “The fact that we saved his life cost hundreds of children and old people their lives. We later discovered that my nephew is now in Gaza, a captive of the man whose life we saved.

“That was Sinwar’s way of saying thank you to us. If I was ever to see this man again face to face, I would say, ‘Only you, Yahya Sinwar, have the blood of your brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip on your hands.’”