The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has officially announced the killing of Yahya Sinwar, a prominent Hamas leader, in an operation conducted in southern Gaza. According to the IDF statement, Sinwar was eliminated on Wednesday after a “year-long pursuit,” contradicting earlier reports from Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz who had claimed Sinwar was killed today. The reason for this discrepancy in timing remains unclear.
The IDF statement emphasizes Sinwar’s role in planning and executing the October 7 attack on Israel, holding him “responsible for the murder and abduction of many Israelis.” The military operation that led to Sinwar’s death was based on intelligence indicating the suspected locations of senior Hamas members in southern Gaza.
“Yahya Sinwar was eliminated after hiding for the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF stated. The operation involved soldiers from the 828th Brigade, who reportedly “identified and eliminated three terrorists,” with Sinwar confirmed as one of those killed.
Israeli police have provided further details on the identification process, stating that Sinwar’s body was initially identified through analysis of his dental records and subsequently confirmed by fingerprint comparison. Israel possessed these records due to Sinwar’s 22-year imprisonment in the country.
The death of Yahya Sinwar represents a significant blow to Hamas. Chosen to replace Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ political wing who was assassinated on July 31, Sinwar was known for his uncompromising stance. His elimination follows a pattern of leadership losses for Hamas and Hezbollah, raising questions about the group’s future strategy.
This development could potentially impact ongoing ceasefire negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently stated that a ceasefire deal in Gaza was “90% there.” The killing of Sinwar could either catalyze the completion of this deal and the return of Israeli hostages or further alienate Hamas from any compromise.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog commended the Israeli forces for the operation, describing Sinwar as “responsible for heinous acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians, citizens of other countries, and the murder of thousands of innocent people.” Herzog emphasized the urgency of efforts to bring back the 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
