On Thursday, October 17, the Israeli military confirmed that Yahya Sinwar, the top leader of Hamas, was killed. The military stated that Sinwar was shot dead in an Israeli military operation, not far from where six hostage bodies were discovered in September.
Sinwar was the mastermind behind the attack that triggered the Gaza War on October 7, 2023.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet (ISA) issued a joint statement earlier on Thursday indicating that three terrorists were eliminated in IDF operations in the Gaza Strip.
Later, the IDF confirmed that Sinwar was one of the deceased. Evidence of Sinwar’s death included his dental records and fingerprints, which matched records from his time in Israeli prisons until 2011.
So far, all indications suggest that no hostages were killed in this operation.
According to reports by The Jerusalem Post, the 162nd Brigade of the Israeli military, including the Bislach Brigade from the 828th Commander’s Headquarters, a tank from the 195th battalion, and infantry from the 450th Battalion, killed Sinwar and confirmed his identity. It was reported that one of Sinwar’s fingers was severed and sent to Israel for testing to confirm his identity more quickly.
Israeli military spokesman Doron Spielman told CNN that Israeli ground forces and tanks were on the scene, believing that “very high-level terrorist commanders,” including Sinwar, were in the area. He said that the IDF was attacked, prompting them to retaliate with tanks. Later, as IDF soldiers checked the buildings, they found Sinwar in the rubble.
Spielman mentioned that when Hamas leader Sinwar was found, three other individuals were with him, one of whom was a Hamas Khan Younis Brigade commander, who was also killed in the wreckage. Spielman did not disclose the commander’s name.
“Our entire goal in our operations in this area was to use very precise intelligence in certain areas to force Sinwar and other commanders out of their hiding places,” he said.
Spielman added that the IDF tried to force Sinwar to leave his hiding place and move, which would lead to mistakes.
“I think he (Sinwar) was in the process of fleeing, moving from an underground courtyard to a surface house, attempting to reach a safer courtyard to the north,” Spielman said.
Last month, the IDF stated that six hostage bodies were found in a Hamas-controlled tunnel, with the hostages brutally killed shortly before IDF forces arrived.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli soldiers found money, an AK-47, a lighter, and a UNRWA9 (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) staff ID on Sinwar’s body.
On Wednesday morning at 10 am local time, the Bislach Brigade noticed suspicious individuals entering and exiting a target building, leading them to open fire on the building. In the afternoon at 3 pm, a drone observed three figures moving between buildings, with two checking an area in front of the third person. The IDF continued to fire at the three individuals, two of whom rushed into one building, while the third person (later identified as Sinwar) ran into another building.
Sinwar climbed to the second floor of a building. An Israeli tank fired at the building, and then they used a drone to inspect the condition of the person (Sinwar) who was shot. His face was covered, attempting to attack the drone. The Israeli tank fired at Sinwar again.
A source familiar with Sinwar’s killing told CNN that after the tank struck a building on Wednesday, a drone discovered Sinwar and other dead bodies in the wreckage.
The source said that it was only after Israeli soldiers walked in and carefully observed that they began to suspect it was Sinwar.
The source added that on Wednesday, the Israeli military, during a “routine operation,” detected movement, leading Israeli tanks to fire on the building where Sinwar was hiding.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video address on Thursday, confirmed that Sinwar was killed in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
“Why did we endure all the pressure to enter Rafah? This is Hamas’ stronghold, where Sinwar and many perpetrators have been hiding,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Hamas members that Hamas leaders would be eliminated one by one and called on those holding Israeli hostages to lay down their arms and return the hostages. Netanyahu stated that whoever does so can save their lives.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “Sinwar’s life was full of failures, pursuit, and escape. He wasn’t a commander, but someone who only cared about himself.”
Gallant continued, “His (death) sends a clear message to the families of the fallen, hostages, and the people of Gaza that the end has come for this man who brought disaster upon you, it is now time to release hostages and surrender.”
Sinwar orchestrated the massacre of over 1200 individuals, including Israelis and those of other nationalities, and the hostage-taking of 250 people on October 7 last year, with 101 hostages still in Gaza. The IDF confirmed that 48 individuals among the 101 hostages were killed during captivity.