Israel Confirms Death of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza Operation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas chief and one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attacks last year, has been killed, as reported by The Times of Israel. The Prime Minister has instructed his aides to inform the families of Israeli hostages about Sinwar’s death.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that three terrorists were eliminated during its operations in Gaza, and among them was Yahya Sinwar. The IDF had previously posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “During IDF operations in Gaza, 3 terrorists were eliminated. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar.”

This development comes weeks after Israel eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon through airstrikes. In another notable event, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

Recently, the IDF has intensified its operations, targeting high-ranking Hamas officials. Several prominent leaders, including Rawhi Mushtaha, head of the Hamas government in Gaza, and Sameh al-Siraj, who managed security within Hamas’ political bureau, were also eliminated.

The IDF continues to carry out airstrikes in Gaza, with military officials stating, “The operation will continue as long as necessary, while systematically striking and thoroughly destroying the terror infrastructure in the area.”

The ongoing operations follow IDF calls for Palestinians in northern Gaza, including areas such as Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, to evacuate to designated humanitarian zones in the south of the Gaza Strip.