Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was instrumental in the October 7 invasion and massacre in southern Israel last year, was killed by IDF soldiers during a chance encounter in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF confirmed his death on Thursday evening.
Initial reports and speculation arose in the early afternoon, with Israeli media later reporting that cabinet ministers were informed of Sinwar’s death after DNA tests were conducted on his body.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz was the first to officially confirm Sinwar’s death, sending a message to global colleagues, which Israeli media cited. He referred to Sinwar as responsible for the October 7 atrocities and characterized his death as a significant military and moral achievement for Israel.
Following this, the IDF and Shin Bet also confirmed the death in an official statement, detailing that a series of actions over the past year, particularly in the weeks leading up to his death, had reduced Sinwar’s operational capabilities.
The IDF reported that units had been active in southern Gaza based on intelligence indicating the presence of senior Hamas officials. A force from the 828th Brigade identified and eliminated three terrorists during the operation. After confirming the identity of one of the bodies, the military stated that Sinwar was among those killed.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, families of hostages held by Hamas were informed that none had been harmed during the firefight that led to Sinwar’s death.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had previously hinted at Sinwar’s death, emphasizing the IDF’s commitment to pursuing its enemies. He underscored Sinwar’s role in orchestrating the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of many innocent Israelis.
Gallant expressed that Sinwar ended his life in hiding, not in command of his organization. He assured that the IDF would pursue anyone attempting to harm Israeli citizens.
He also addressed the people of Gaza, stating that the man responsible for their suffering had been eliminated and urged them to release hostages and surrender.
The firefight that resulted in Sinwar’s death occurred during a routine IDF operation, not in a tunnel. Late on Wednesday, Israeli soldiers noticed several Hamas terrorists entering a building in Rafah and ordered a tank strike that partially collapsed the structure. Initial suspicions about Sinwar’s death arose when IDF soldiers inspected the damage via drone, later confirming the resemblance of one body to Sinwar during an on-site inspection.
The identities of the other two killed terrorists have not yet been verified, but a significant amount of cash and several passports were found on their bodies.