The Israeli military has announced the death of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and mastermind behind the October 7 attack on Israel. Sinwar was killed during a surprise firefight in southern Gaza’s Rafah, dealing a significant setback to the Palestinian militant group that has been waging war against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip for over a year.
Here’s what we know about the killing of one of Israel’s most wanted men.
How Sinwar was found and killed
On Wednesday, a routine patrol of Israel’s 828th Brigade (Bislach) was moving through Rafah when soldiers unexpectedly encountered three Palestinian militants. The patrol had no prior intelligence suggesting that Sinwar was in the area. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israeli military spokesman, explained that Sinwar had been hiding in locations that Israeli forces had been combing for an extended period.
“Our forces identified three terrorists who were going from home to home on the run,” Hagari said during a briefing on Thursday. As the soldiers pursued them, Sinwar broke away from the other two militants. According to Israeli media, a tank fired at the building where the two militants took cover, while Sinwar sought refuge in a separate house.
Israeli forces then deployed a drone to scan the area, capturing footage of Sinwar sitting alone in a devastated house, his head covered in a traditional scarf, with one hand severely injured. In a moment of desperation, he hurled a stick at the approaching drone. “We identified him as a terrorist inside a building and shot into the building. Upon entering and scanning the area, we found him with a gun and 40,000 shekels ($10,750),” Hagari added.
Forensic confirmation
Unverified images circulating online showed Israeli soldiers standing around the body of a man resembling Sinwar, his corpse mangled and surrounded by rubble. The man appeared to have suffered a severe head wound and wore a chunky watch. Israeli forces conducted immediate DNA testing, dental examinations, and other forensic procedures, which confirmed Sinwar’s identity.
Sinwar’s body was transferred to a laboratory in Tel Aviv, where further forensic testing confirmed his identity. Israeli media reported that despite his long time spent in Gaza’s underground tunnels, his physical condition was "good."
No hostages present
Sinwar had not been seen in public since the October 7 attack that ignited the ongoing conflict. Israeli authorities believed he was hiding in the network of tunnels beneath Gaza, often releasing CCTV footage of a man, believed to be Sinwar, emerging from a tunnel.
Reports suggested that Sinwar had been shielding himself with hostages captured during the October 7 attack, but military officials confirmed that no hostages were found when Sinwar was cornered and killed. “There were no signs of hostages in the area where the terrorists were eliminated,” the military statement said.
What comes next?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Sinwar’s death as a pivotal moment in the conflict, calling it the "beginning of the end" for Hamas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed this sentiment, pledging that Israel would continue to hunt down and eliminate terrorists while working to bring back the hostages still held in Gaza.
However, families of the hostages expressed concerns about the fate of their loved ones. At a rally in Tel Aviv just hours after Sinwar’s death was announced, Sisil, a 60-year-old woman, called for a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a hostage deal to end the war,” she said.
Hamas has yet to confirm Sinwar’s death. Experts believe the group may delay acknowledging his demise, especially as his body remains in Israeli custody. Sinwar’s killing comes shortly after the death of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, in July, raising questions about who will succeed him as the leader of Hamas.
Sinwar's death marks a critical moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict, but it remains to be seen how this development will impact the ongoing war and the fate of those still held captive in Gaza.
Here’s what we know about the killing of one of Israel’s most wanted men.
How Sinwar was found and killed
On Wednesday, a routine patrol of Israel’s 828th Brigade (Bislach) was moving through Rafah when soldiers unexpectedly encountered three Palestinian militants. The patrol had no prior intelligence suggesting that Sinwar was in the area. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israeli military spokesman, explained that Sinwar had been hiding in locations that Israeli forces had been combing for an extended period.
“Our forces identified three terrorists who were going from home to home on the run,” Hagari said during a briefing on Thursday. As the soldiers pursued them, Sinwar broke away from the other two militants. According to Israeli media, a tank fired at the building where the two militants took cover, while Sinwar sought refuge in a separate house.
Israeli forces then deployed a drone to scan the area, capturing footage of Sinwar sitting alone in a devastated house, his head covered in a traditional scarf, with one hand severely injured. In a moment of desperation, he hurled a stick at the approaching drone. “We identified him as a terrorist inside a building and shot into the building. Upon entering and scanning the area, we found him with a gun and 40,000 shekels ($10,750),” Hagari added.
Forensic confirmation
Unverified images circulating online showed Israeli soldiers standing around the body of a man resembling Sinwar, his corpse mangled and surrounded by rubble. The man appeared to have suffered a severe head wound and wore a chunky watch. Israeli forces conducted immediate DNA testing, dental examinations, and other forensic procedures, which confirmed Sinwar’s identity.
Sinwar’s body was transferred to a laboratory in Tel Aviv, where further forensic testing confirmed his identity. Israeli media reported that despite his long time spent in Gaza’s underground tunnels, his physical condition was "good."
No hostages present
Sinwar had not been seen in public since the October 7 attack that ignited the ongoing conflict. Israeli authorities believed he was hiding in the network of tunnels beneath Gaza, often releasing CCTV footage of a man, believed to be Sinwar, emerging from a tunnel.
Reports suggested that Sinwar had been shielding himself with hostages captured during the October 7 attack, but military officials confirmed that no hostages were found when Sinwar was cornered and killed. “There were no signs of hostages in the area where the terrorists were eliminated,” the military statement said.
What comes next?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Sinwar’s death as a pivotal moment in the conflict, calling it the "beginning of the end" for Hamas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed this sentiment, pledging that Israel would continue to hunt down and eliminate terrorists while working to bring back the hostages still held in Gaza.
However, families of the hostages expressed concerns about the fate of their loved ones. At a rally in Tel Aviv just hours after Sinwar’s death was announced, Sisil, a 60-year-old woman, called for a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a hostage deal to end the war,” she said.
Hamas has yet to confirm Sinwar’s death. Experts believe the group may delay acknowledging his demise, especially as his body remains in Israeli custody. Sinwar’s killing comes shortly after the death of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, in July, raising questions about who will succeed him as the leader of Hamas.
Sinwar's death marks a critical moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict, but it remains to be seen how this development will impact the ongoing war and the fate of those still held captive in Gaza.
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