Israeli forces in Gaza have killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, considered a main planner of last year’s attack on Israel that initiated the ongoing conflict, according to a military statement released Thursday. The troops reportedly encountered him inadvertently during combat and later discovered his body in the wreckage.
Israeli officials hailed his death as a form of justice one year after a Hamas-led assault left around 1,200 Israelis dead and resulted in the kidnapping of 250 individuals. This incident had a profound impact on the nation. Israeli leaders are framing the announcement as a pivotal moment in their efforts to dismantle Hamas and are encouraging the militant group to surrender and free approximately 100 hostages still held in Gaza.
“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. This signals the start of a new era post-Hamas,” stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.S. officials expressed optimism that Sinwar’s death might pave the way for a ceasefire. However, they cautioned that the war, which has resulted in significant destruction across Gaza and claimed the lives of more than 42,000 Palestinians, might continue unabated. The Gaza Health Ministry does not separate civilian casualties from combatant casualties, but reports suggest that over half of those killed are women and children.
The loss of Sinwar is deemed a significant setback for Hamas, yet the organization, with backing from Iran, has shown it can endure the deaths of leadership figures in the past. Hamas has not immediately confirmed Sinwar’s death.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will persist in its campaign until all hostages are rescued and will maintain control over Gaza for an extended period to prevent Hamas from re-establishing its military capabilities, signifying a potential for ongoing conflict for months or years.
Additionally, Israel has recently intensified its conflict with Hezbollah, launching airstrikes and a ground offensive against the Iran-supported group after a year of sporadic cross-border skirmishes.
In addressing Sinwar’s death, Netanyahu remarked, “Our war is not yet over.”
President Biden remarked that Sinwar’s death creates opportunities for a political resolution that benefits both Israelis and Palestinians. He announced plans to communicate with Netanyahu regarding strategies for securing the return of hostages and ending the war.
Sinwar has been a pivotal figure leading Hamas in Gaza for several years and took on the leadership role in July following the death of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh. In recent months, Israel has targeted and eliminated other senior leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah through airstrikes. Although Israel claims to have killed the military leader of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, Hamas asserts that he survived.
The military indicated that Sinwar was discovered by chance during an operation where Israeli forces saw three Hamas fighters fleeing and fired upon them. Subsequent drone footage allegedly captures Sinwar in a shattered room before his death, where he is seen attempting to conceal his identity and responding to the drone.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that Sinwar was found with military equipment, including a bulletproof vest and grenades, in addition to cash amounting to approximately $10,700. He noted that DNA evidence previously recovered from tunnels linked to hostages contributed to the military locating Sinwar.
Visuals circulating on social media appeared to show a body resembling Sinwar’s, identified by Israeli security officials, with severe injuries and dressed in military gear. The military confirmed that dental records and DNA tests verified his identity.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged Hamas fighters to surrender and free the hostages. Netanyahu claimed that Israel had “settled its account” with the individual responsible for the October 7 attack and indicated that their mission is incomplete.
Demonstrations occurred in Tel Aviv, with hundreds advocating for the release of hostages after the news of Sinwar’s death, with slogans like “Sinwar’s end, end the war.”
In central Gaza, a displaced woman expressed hope that Sinwar’s demise would mean an end to Israel’s military actions. “What more objectives do they have? Enough. We want to go home,” she voiced.
Others declared Sinwar a symbol of resistance against decades of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. A man from northern Gaza asserted that Hamas would find a way to replace Sinwar, claiming, “After one leader, many more will arise.”
Israeli forces have been actively engaged in ground operations in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, targeting Hamas militants who have regrouped there. On Thursday, an Israeli strike reportedly hit a school sheltering displaced civilians, resulting in at least 28 casualties, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli military contended that it aimed at a Hamas command center located within the school.
The military has been under scrutiny for its operations in densely populated areas where civilian casualties are tragically common, despite claims of precision in targeting militants.