The Israeli military announced on Thursday that Yahya Sinwar, a key leader of Hamas and considered by Israel to be the mastermind behind the group’s October 7, 2023, attack, has been killed in combat. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday following a year-long effort to locate him. The IDF’s statement indicated that in recent weeks, forces have been active in southern Gaza based on intelligence that pinpointed the locations of senior Hamas figures.
The IDF reported that soldiers from the 828th Brigade (Bislach) were involved in an operation that resulted in the elimination of three militants. After confirming the identity of the body, they verified that Yahya Sinwar had been killed. According to two Israeli sources, Sinwar was encountered during a routine military operation when Israeli infantry troops came across three militants near a building in Gaza and engaged in a firefight. After the clash, they found a body resembling Sinwar and notified senior commanders.
The Israeli government also confirmed to U.S. officials that Sinwar was deceased based on preliminary DNA tests, as reported by another source. Additionally, dental records were used to identify him, along with other biometric data. This dental confirmation was obtained quickly, as the Israeli government already had Sinwar’s biometrics from his previous imprisonment in Israel for murder, where he spent over two decades.
Israeli Army Radio, which is funded and operated by the IDF, reported that the military noticed “suspicious movement” on the upper floor of a building and targeted it with a tank. Following the attack, a drone surveyed the area, and soldiers recognized Sinwar’s face among the debris. The IDF had previously observed “unusual activity” in the vicinity and decided to enhance surveillance efforts, opting to remain in the area.
As of now, Hamas has not issued any statement regarding the death of its leader. Sinwar had long been considered one of Israel’s most wanted figures in Gaza, yet he remained difficult to apprehend.
Sinwar was the primary target of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, initiated after the October 7 attack that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and over 250 hostages. Israel has conducted air and ground campaigns that have led to the deaths of several senior Hamas leaders, with reports indicating that more than 42,000 people have died in Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Images reportedly showing Sinwar’s deceased body are circulating widely on social media. In these images, a man resembling Sinwar appears dead in the rubble of a destroyed building, suffering severe injuries to the head. Image verification software has been used to analyze these photos, showing no signs of manipulation. However, the specific location and timing of his death cannot be determined from the still images, and the identity of the individual in the photos has not been confirmed.
Sinwar had been leading Hamas since August, following the assassination of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh. He had not made any public appearances since the Hamas attacks and is believed to have been hiding within the extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza. Israel has accused Sinwar of being the “mastermind” behind the October 7 attack, although experts suggest he is likely one of several key figures involved. Mohammed Deif, the commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, and his deputy, Marwan Issa, have also been identified as significant players in orchestrating the assault.
A longstanding member of Hamas, Sinwar played a crucial role in strengthening the group’s military capabilities and establishing important ties with regional Arab powers as its civilian and political leader. He was elected to Hamas’ main decision-making body, the Politburo, in 2017, taking on the role of political leader for the Gaza branch.
Sinwar has been designated a global terrorist by the U.S. Department of State since 2015 and has recently faced sanctions from the United Kingdom and France.
U.S. officials believe that his death could present a significant opportunity to help end the Israel-Hamas conflict. With efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostages deal stalled for months, senior officials in the Biden administration had hoped that eliminating Sinwar might create openings for progress that have not been possible otherwise.