Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar dead, Israel says

The Israeli occupation army announced today that it had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

In an official statement on X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed “the elimination” of Sinwar in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also confirmed the killing.

Israeli media revealed that the Israeli occupation army killed Sinwar “by chance” during “routine sweeps”, without relying on intelligence information.

Reports indicated that Sinwar, Israel’s top target, was killed during a field confrontation, while he was dressed in full military uniform, contradicting previous Israeli claims that he had been hiding among Israeli prisoners in tunnels for months in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Earlier yesterday, the army said, in cooperation with the Shin Bet security agency, it carried out dozens of operations in recent months, which restricted Sinwar’s movements and eventually led to his death.

It added that a unit from the 828 Brigade spotted and killed three Hamas members during a firefight in southern Gaza. After completing DNA tests, it was confirmed that Sinwar was among the dead.

The army said Sinwar was killed on Wednesday, but his body was only discovered after the area was searched yesterday.

Although the military did not specify the location of Sinwar’s death, Israeli media reports suggested the operation took place in the southern city of Rafah.

Hamas has not commented on the Israeli reports, nor has it confirmed that Sinwar has been killed.

‘Killed in routine sweeps’

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that a force from the army’s Bislach unit was conducting a routine sweep in Rafah, where they suspected that figures were inside a building later found to be booby-trapped.

The report said the unit fired artillery rounds and heavy gunfire at the building, killing three Hamas members without knowing that Sinwar was among them.

After a while, the soldiers began to sweep the building. Two grenades were thrown – one exploded, the other did not, according to the report.

“The troops pulled back and sent a drone, which detected an injured figure, face covered, sitting in a room and attempting to knock the drone out of the air with a stick.”

Yahya Sinwar went out fighting. Dressed in fatigues, his right arm severed, he flung a stick defiantly at the Israel drone filming him. He had submitted to his fate from the moment he unleashed the flood. This video practically ensures the tide will rise. pic.twitter.com/B6ttzPMHJT

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) October 17, 2024

When soldiers approached the bodies of the Palestinian fighters, they noticed that one of them bore a strong resemblance to Sinwar, according to the newspaper.

The Haaretz newspaper echoed Yedioth Ahronoth’s report, stating that Sinwar’s death was “by chance.”

“There was no intelligence indicating Sinwar’s presence; what happened was by chance,” it said.

Sinwar’s belongings

Israel’s Channel 12 shared a photo of Sinwar’s belongings found after his death, which included prayer beads, two small prayer books, a passport, bullet, small flashlight, mint candy, nail clipper and cash.

There were no Israeli prisoners with Sinwar, the channel reported, contradicting claims from Israeli security agencies.

Israeli media aired videos showing Sinwar after his death, dressed in full military uniform.

‘Ready for combat’

Israel’s official public broadcaster claimed that Sinwar’s death followed increased military pressure on Hamas leaders in southern Gaza in recent weeks

The broadcaster alleged that the intensified pressure forced Sinwar to frequently move between locations in southern Gaza, leading him to be ready for a direct confrontation with Israeli occupation forces.

Sinwar reportedly took part in a firefight against Israeli occupation forces from inside a building, indicating he was ready for a direct confrontation, which contradicted previous intelligence claims that he had surrounded himself with Israeli prisoners.

Israel’s announcement of Sinwar’s killing comes more than two months after he was appointed leader of Hamas’ political bureau following the assassination of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in a “Zionist raid” while he was on an official visit to Iran.

Israel views Sinwar as the mastermind behind the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood Operation’ carried out by Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, against Israeli settlements and military bases near Gaza on 7 October 2023.

As a result, Israel declared that eliminating Sinwar was a top priority of its current genocidal war on Gaza.

Channel 12 said Shin Bet had formed a special unit to assassinate Sinwar.

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