On Thursday, Israel announced the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, in a military operation in the southern Gaza Strip. Foreign Minister Israel Katz described Sinwar as a “mass murderer” responsible for the October 7 attacks, which marked the deadliest day in Israeli history.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that after a year-long pursuit, they successfully eliminated Sinwar during operations conducted on Wednesday. However, Hamas has not yet confirmed his death.
Sinwar, who had risen through the ranks of Hamas to become its leader in Gaza, was accused by Israel of masterminding the October 7 attack. His death, if confirmed, could significantly weaken Hamas amid the ongoing conflict, which has escalated following the attack.
This announcement follows a pattern of targeted strikes by Israel, including the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and the killing of other Iranian-backed militant commanders. In a recent update, an Israeli security official mentioned that DNA tests are being conducted on a body believed to be Sinwar’s to confirm his identity.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated the country’s commitment to targeting and eliminating terrorists. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden was kept informed of the developments while en route to Germany.