The CIA has been providing intelligence to Israel on senior Hamas leaders and captives held in Gaza, according to a New York Times report that quoted unnamed US officials, Al Jazeera reports.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reportedly ordered the formation of a new task force to gather intelligence on the captives’ whereabouts and Hamas leaders shortly after the October 7 attack.

The report says US officials believe that top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is hiding in the deepest parts of the group’s tunnel network under Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and that he is also believed to have surrounded himself by Israeli captives to make any operation against him highly challenging.

It said Washington is spending many more resources on collecting intelligence on Hamas than it was before the conflict, and is also carrying out more drone flights over Gaza to intercept communications between Hamas operatives.