Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the Gaza war, was killed on Thursday during an Israeli military operation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military confirmed the operation shortly after it reported it was “checking the possibility” that one of three militants killed was Sinwar.
To verify his identity, Israeli police are analysing dental images and DNA evidence. The military also stated that there were no signs of hostages in the building targeted during the operation.
“Mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, who was responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was killed today by IDF soldiers,” Katz said in a statement.
“This is a great military and moral achievement for Israel and a victory for the entire free world against the axis of evil of radical Islam led by Iran,” Katz said.
“Sinwar’s assassination creates the opportunity for the immediate release of the hostages and to bring about a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza – without Hamas and without Iranian control.”
Israel’s Army Radio reported that the incident took place during a ground operation in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. During the operation, Israeli forces killed three militants and retrieved their bodies.
In Israel, families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza expressed hope that a ceasefire could be reached to facilitate the return of their loved ones. Meanwhile, residents in Gaza remained skeptical, believing the war would continue. The death of Sinwar, a significant figure for Hamas, marks a critical victory for Israel’s military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the intense conflict in Gaza stretches into its second year.
Sinwar, who assumed leadership of Hamas following the assassination of political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, was reportedly hiding in the extensive network of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza over the years. His death may intensify tensions across the Middle East, raising the risk of a broader conflict. However, eliminating the man behind last year’s attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of over 250 hostages, could also push efforts forward to bring an end to the war. Over the past year, more than 42,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.
In northern Gaza on Thursday, Israeli airstrikes killed 19 Palestinians, including children, at a school in the Jabalia camp, which was sheltering displaced families, according to a Gaza health ministry official.