Israeli officials (unnamed) revealed that Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the devastating attack on Israel last October that set off the Gaza war, has very likely been killed by troops.
Israeli broadcasters quoted unnamed officials with knowledge of the situation as saying, the Hamas leader got killed during the Israeli troop’s operation in southern Gaza.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the military, which previously stated it was investigating whether Sinwar, Israel’s most wanted enemy, was among the three operatives killed in an operation in the Gaza Strip.
“In this stage, we cannot confirm the identities of the terrorists,” the statement noted.
It also mentioned that there were no indications that Israeli hostages were present in the building where the three operatives were eliminated.
No response from Hamas on Yahya Sinwar’s death
There has been no immediate comment from Hamas regarding recent events. Israeli reports indicated that the operation leading to Sinwar’s situation was a routine raid that unexpectedly involved him.
Al-Majd, a website linked to Hamas that typically reports on security matters, advised Palestinians to await official updates from the group itself, cautioning against relying on Israeli media, which it accused of attempting to demoralize them.
If confirmed, Yahya Sinwar’s death would mark a significant victory for the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially following a series of high-profile assassinations of enemy leaders in recent months.
Families of the 101 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in Gaza expressed their relief over the news about Yahya Sinwar, but reiterated their demand for a deal to secure the hostages’ release.
They urged the Israeli government, along with international leaders and mediators, to transform this military achievement into a diplomatic success by facilitating an immediate agreement for the hostages’ return.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shared a biblical quote on social media: “‘You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword.’ – Leviticus 26. Our enemies cannot hide. We will pursue and eliminate them.”
He posted images of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, assassinated in Beirut last month, and former Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, killed in August, with a blank space for a third figure between them, all marked out in red.
Who was Yahya Sinwar and who will succeed him?
It remains uncertain who might succeed Yahya Sinwar. He was known for his unyielding stance against Israel and his reputation as a ruthless enforcer within Hamas. None of his potential successors currently hold the same level of influence.
Sinwar, the brain behind the attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, has been a top target for Israel ever since Hamas-led gunmen struck on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of hostages.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has claimed more than 42,000 lives, devastated much of Gaza, and displaced a significant portion of its population. Despite this, Sinwar had managed to evade capture,
He was likely hiding in the extensive network of tunnels that Hamas has built over the past two decades. His death would represent the most significant blow to Hamas in over a year of conflict.
It may potentially have more severe repercussions for its remaining forces in Gaza than the assassination of former political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was less involved in the daily operations of the war.
Sinwar, who previously led Hamas in Gaza, was appointed overall leader following Haniyeh’s assassination by what Hamas called a “Zionist raid”, in Tehran, in July.
As the mastermind behind Hamas’s political and strategic direction, Sinwar wielded unparalleled power within the organization, and his death could pave the way for renewed efforts toward a ceasefire to end the ongoing conflict.
Israel claims to have dismantled Hamas as an organized military entity and has killed more than 18,000 Hamas fighters. However, it continues to engage in intense confrontations with small groups of fighters operating amid the rubble of Gaza.