Details have emerged on how Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed during an unplanned operation, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday evening that Yahya Sinwar, a prominent Hamas leader, was killed during an unexpected military operation in Rafah on Wednesday. This confirmation followed several hours of speculation.
Israeli authorities, comprising the IDF, Shin Bet, and Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz, confirmed Sinwar’s death at approximately 7:45 p.m. This confirmation was based on dental and fingerprint records collected during his imprisonment in Israel prior to 2011.
“We have avenged the attack we endured a year ago by taking decisive action against Sinwar,” stated IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. He was joined by Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar and IDF Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkleman, underscoring the extensive series of operations that ultimately led to Sinwar’s death.
Halevi explained that the recent operation wasn’t driven by prior intelligence; instead, it was a part of continuing military efforts to monitor Hamas members throughout Gaza, especially in Rafah.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant portrayed Sinwar’s last moments as those of a fugitive, stating, “He ended his life in defeat, fleeing and focused solely on his own survival.” Gallant called upon the people of Gaza to seize this moment to release hostages and surrender.
Military sources reported that although there were earlier concerns, no hostages were harmed during the operation.
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In a joint statement issued earlier on Thursday, the IDF and Shin Bet announced, “During operations in the Gaza Strip, three terrorists were neutralized. An investigation is underway to verify whether one of these targets was Yahya Sinwar.” They confirmed that there was no evidence of hostages at the operation site.
Reports suggest that Sinwar’s body was identified after a severed finger fragment was sent to Israel for verification. His death was confirmed by Division 162, which comprises units like the 828 Bislach Brigade and Battalion 195.
According to reports, Sinwar had been with six hostages—among them Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Eden Yerushalmi—in tunnels beneath Rafah prior to their execution. Afterward, he started moving alone without using hostages as human shields.
The Israel Police released a statement confirming that although some forensic work is finished, DNA testing is still underway to complete the identification process.
Sinwar played a significant role in planning the October 7 attack, which led to over 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages being taken; of these hostages, 48 were confirmed killed while in captivity.
Famous for utilizing tunnels and messengers to remain undetected, Sinwar’s movements had previously posed challenges for those attempting to capture him. Despite varying reports about his location, Israel’s military managed to trace his presence within the tunnel network earlier this year.
Sinwar’s death comes after other prominent Hamas leaders, such as Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Mohammed Deif in Gaza, have been eliminated recently.
