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IDF is investigating whether Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Gaza attack

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IDF is investigating whether Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Gaza attack

Israeli media reported on Thursday that the likelihood that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in an attack in Gaza was “increasingly higher,” security officials said.

The IDF and Shin Bet (ISA) issued a joint statement early Thursday regarding the possible attack.

“Initial Report – Three terrorists were eliminated during IDF operations in the Gaza Strip. The IDF and Shin Bet are investigating the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar. At this point, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed,” the IDF said.

“In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. Forces operating in the area continue to act with due caution.”

Sky News Arabia published a report shortly afterwards quoting a security official as saying his death had been confirmed.

One of the terrorists targeted in the IDF attack in Gaza was Hamas division commander Khan Yunis, who had been in close proximity to Sinwar since the start of the war, according to Army Radio on Thursday. According to Army Radio's report, Israel's confirmation of the division commander's death is a clear sign that Sinwar was among those killed in the IDF attack.

The IDF also believes that Sinwar remained in the tunnel with the six killed hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov and Ori Danino, who were being held in Rafah. According to the IDF, after the hostages were executed, he began moving around without hostages other than human shields.

Israeli police issued the following statement a few hours after the report: “In response to recent reports of the identification of the assassination attempt on Yahya Sinwar, the Israel Police, IDF and Shin Bet are actively working to ensure a final identification.”

“So far, one of the many necessary investigations has been completed for absolute confirmation. Dental images have been submitted to the police forensic laboratory and DNA testing is currently underway.”

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“After completing these processes, we will be able to confirm the assassination. Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available.”

Sinwar orchestrated the October 7 massacre, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, including Israelis and people of other nationalities, and the taking of over 250 hostages, 101 of whom still live in the Gaza Strip.

Of the 101 hostages, the IDF confirmed that 48 were killed in captivity.

Sinwar was widely believed to have hidden in Hamas tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip, never staying in one place for too long and eschewing communications technologies and relying on messengers.

Human shields

The Hamas terror chief was believed to have been surrounded by the remaining hostages as a human shield, which reportedly prevented the IDF from attacking and killing him. The IDF reiterated in its statement that there were no signs of hostages at the site of the attack.

There were conflicting reports as to whether Sinwar left the tunnels during the course of the Israel-Hamas war, and the IDF obtained footage of the Hamas chief walking through the tunnels in February this year.

Several Hamas leaders have been eliminated by Israel, including Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in July, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, also killed in the Gaza Strip in July.

This is a developing story.



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