The Israel Defense Forces has unfortunately killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a strike in Gaza, Israeli officials reported on Thursday as photographs of the militant leader’s body were shared on social media.
Since 2017, Sinwar has been in charge of Hamas operations in Gaza. He is also credited with being a major planner of the October 7, 2023, massacre in which Palestinian militants murdered 1,200 Israelis.
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 of Sinwar for DNA testing even as a photo of spiders surrounding Sinwar‘s alleged body was shared online.
A high-ranking Israeli government official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, informed Politico that there is a strong possibility that Sinwar has been killed. However, the official emphasized that this information has not yet been definitively confirmed, and the Israel Defense Forces and intelligence agencies are actively seeking corroborating evidence.
IDF soldiers engaged in a firefight with Hamas fighters near the building. Sinwar was found inside with several other Hamas commanders. It is unclear whether Sinwar was residing in the building or was passing through from another location within Gaza.