Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar May Be Dead
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Thursday that it may have killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, after a body was discovered that closely resembled him in the aftermath of a battle in the Gaza Strip.
Sinwar was the architect of the October, 7, 2023, terror attack, and became the overall leader of Hamas when Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, Iran, in late July.
In a statement, the IDF said:
Initial report – During IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, three terrorists were eliminated. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar. At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed.
In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution.
More details to follow.
Sinwar was believed to have been hiding underground, surrounding himself with over a dozen hostages to prevent Israel from killing him in an airstrike. His possible presence in a building above ground led to speculation that he might have been trying to leave Gaza.