Israel has likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, officials say

Source: Politico | October 17, 2024 | Erin Banco, Jamie Dettmer and Elena Giordano

Israeli forces have eliminated other Hamas and Hezbollah chiefs in recent months.

The Israel Defense Forces likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a strike in Gaza, two Israeli officials told POLITICO on Thursday.

Sinwar led Hamas operations in Gaza since 2017, and he is believed to be the key architect of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in which Palestinian militants killed 1,200 people in Israel.

Israel previously eliminated Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, then killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in September, as it relentlessly attacked its Iran-backed enemies in the region.

“We will reach every terrorist — and eliminate him,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as authorities took the corpse for DNA testing.

A senior Israeli government official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject, said it is “looking like” Sinwar was killed, but they added that his death has “not yet been confirmed,” and the Israel Defense Forces and the country’s intelligence services are scrambling for corroborating evidence.

Sinwar was in a building in Rafah in the southern portion of the coastal enclave and was found coincidentally, one of the Israeli officials said. The building was the setting of a routine IDF operation Thursday, according to that same official and a third Israeli official familiar with the situation.

IDF soldiers engaged in a firefight with Hamas fighters near the building and Sinwar was found inside with several other Hamas commanders. It’s unclear whether Sinwar was living in the building or was passing through from another location inside Gaza.

Israeli officials said they are increasingly worried about the fate of the hostages still being held inside the enclave.

Former head of the Israeli security agency Shin Bet Ya’akov Peri told POLITICO: “The service called me. They are still checking the body,” he said. He added the big worry now is “where are the hostages?” 

Hamas’ remaining Israeli captives have been held near to Sinwar’s hideaways, as a protection to deter Israel from targeting him. 

The concern is that some hostages may have been caught up in the attack on Sinwar or that Hamas fighters will avenge his death, if confirmed, by killing captives. 

The IDF said: “In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution.”

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