Jerusalem: The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it has successfully eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, during a targeted operation in the southern Gaza Strip.
Sinwar has been accused by Israel of orchestrating the deadly October 7, 2023 attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz referred to Sinwar as a “mass murderer,” stating, “The mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was eliminated by IDF soldiers.” Reports indicate that the military’s operation followed a year-long pursuit of Sinwar, who had been at the top of Israel’s wanted list.
The operation took place in Rafah, where Israeli forces also killed three other militants and recovered their bodies. While the military suggested that visual evidence indicated one of the deceased was likely Sinwar, confirmation through DNA testing is pending. Israel possesses DNA samples from Sinwar dating back to his time in an Israeli prison.
This significant development comes after a series of high-profile assassinations targeting Hamas leaders, marking a notable victory for the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a broader context, the conflict has resulted in over 42,000 fatalities in Gaza since the initial attacks, alongside widespread destruction and mass displacement of the population.
Meanwhile, Hamas has yet to confirm Sinwar’s death.