In a surprising turn of events Yahya Sinwar‚ Hamas leader was killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza. The incident happened during a gun battle on Oct 16 2024‚ with troops initially unaware of who they were facing.
Israeli officials stated that intelligence services had been looking for Sinwar for months limiting his movement area. The military confirmed his death using dental records fingerprints and DNA testing. Hamas sources have indicated that Sinwar was indeed killed by Israeli troops.
Unlike other targeted strikes‚ this operation wasnt planned. Infantry soldiers were searching an area in Tal El Sultan‚ southern Gaza where they thought senior Hamas members might be. They saw three suspected militants moving between buildings and opened fire – leading to a gunfight where Sinwar escaped into a ruined building.
Israeli media reported that tank shells and a missile were fired at the building. The military released mini-drone footage showing a badly-wounded Sinwar sitting on a chair‚ his face covered. He tried to knock down the drone with a stick.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari‚ Israeli military spokesperson said: “He tried to escape and our forces eliminated him“
In his final months Sinwar – the main planner of the Oct 7 2023 attack on Israel that started the Gaza war – stopped using phones and other communication equipment. This made it hard for Israels intelligence to track him. Officials thought he was hiding in Hamas vast tunnel network‚ but as more tunnels were found even they werent safe.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi‚ head of Israels military said the pursuit of Sinwar over the past year made him “act like a fugitive‚ causing him to change locations multiple times“
Israeli officials were worried Sinwar might use some of the 101 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in Gaza as human shields. However no hostages were found nearby when he was trapped. Hagari mentioned that Sinwars DNA samples were found in a tunnel close to where six Israeli hostages were killed by Hamas in late Aug 2024