Unexpected Encounter: Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killed in Gaza Airstrike?

Several initial reports indicate that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who masterminded the 7 October attack on Israel that ignited the war in Gaza, was killed in an unexpected encounter with Israeli ground forces.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they were investigating the possibility that Sinwar was among three militants killed during an operation but stated that the identities of the deceased could not be confirmed yet.

However, security officials, speaking anonymously to Israeli media, indicated that the bodies had been transported to Israel for DNA tests, and that the IDF assesses "with high probability" that one of those killed was Sinwar.

Sinwar Killed by Chance?

Israel's Kan Radio reported that the Hamas leader had been killed "by chance," not as a result of intelligence gathering. The station also revealed that the bodies were found with significant amounts of cash and fake IDs.

Graphic photos and video from the scene, broadcast on Israeli media, displayed what appeared to be Sinwar's body, clad in fatigues, with a severe head injury, lying amidst the rubble of a destroyed building. It was uncertain when or where the footage was taken or how the damage occurred.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

IDF Actions Leading to the Death

Israel's Channel 12 reported that an infantry battalion, operating alongside a tank unit, spotted a group of men rushing into a building. The forces initiated fire using tank shells, resulting in the bodies being buried under the rubble.

If confirmed, Sinwar's demise would represent a significant victory for the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This follows a series of high-profile assassinations of prominent leaders of Israel's adversaries in recent months.

It was widely believed that Sinwar had surrounded himself with Israeli hostages to minimize the likelihood of being targeted. However, in a statement, the prime minister's office clarified that no hostages were believed to have been present at the time of the incident.

Extensive Search for Sinwar

For a year, Israel has dedicated substantial resources in its pursuit of Sinwar, deploying a taskforce of intelligence officers, special operation units, military engineers, and surveillance experts under the auspices of the Israeli Security Agency. Yet, ironically, he appears to have been killed by regular troops on patrol.

Sinwar: A Master Strategist

Sinwar, known for his keen understanding of Israel's military and politics, spoke fluent Hebrew, learned during his 20-year imprisonment. He was the driving force behind Hamas's strategy in recent years, which involved deliberately lulling Israel into believing the group had been deterred from engaging in conflict, only to launch the surprise attack that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the capture of more than 250 hostages.

Western and Israeli intelligence assessments over the past year suggested that Sinwar had long avoided electronic communication, relying on a network of couriers to interact with the outside world from Hamas's extensive network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip.

These reports also indicated that Sinwar had adopted a fatalistic attitude amidst the intense warfare that has resulted in the deaths of 42,000 people, believing his demise was inevitable. However, he remained hopeful that he could entangle Israel in a regional conflict involving Iran and allied groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Sinwar's Background

Sinwar, 61, was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza and grew up in poverty. He studied at the Islamic University of Gaza, earning a bachelor's degree in Arabic Studies.

Among his childhood acquaintances were Mohammed Deif, Hamas's military chief, whom Israel claimed to have killed in an airstrike three months ago, and Mohammed Dahlan, a prominent member of the secular Fatah party currently in exile in the UAE.

Sinwar joined Hamas at an early age, shortly after its inception. He spent much of his youth in and out of Israeli prisons, rising through the ranks as a feared enforcer responsible for identifying and eliminating suspected Palestinian collaborators with Israel. He played a crucial role in bolstering the group's military capabilities.

In 1989, he was sentenced to four life sentences for the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians suspected of collaboration. He served 22 years, gaining respect as a prison leader, before his release in the 2011 prisoner exchange that saw the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,000 Palestinians. Upon his return to Gaza, he married and had three children.

Sinwar was elected by other Hamas members in a secret ballot as Hamas's chief in Gaza in 2017, surviving several Israeli assassination attempts. Unlike some senior Hamas leaders, he has never wavered from his belief that armed struggle is the only path to achieving the creation of a Palestinian state.

Hardening Hamas Stance

In a reflection of the group's increasingly resolute position on ceasefire talks, Sinwar was appointed as head of the group overall following Israel's assassination of Hamas's Qatar-based political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in July.

Israel indicated that they had come close to capturing or killing Sinwar in January when they discovered DNA evidence of his presence in a bunker beneath Khan Younis, including clothing and over 1 million shekels (more than £200,000) in cash. It was estimated that he had left the bunker a few days before Israeli forces raided it.

Hostage Families' Response

In a statement, Israel's Hostage Families Forum expressed their appreciation for the security forces' elimination of Sinwar, who they described as the mastermind behind the deadliest massacre in Israel's history, responsible for the deaths of thousands and the abduction of hundreds. However, they voiced deep concern regarding the fate of the 101 men, women, elderly, and children still held captive by Hamas. They urged the Israeli government, world leaders, and mediating countries to leverage this military achievement into a diplomatic solution for the release of the hostages.

Reactions to Sinwar's Possible Death

The news of Sinwar's possible death sparked reactions from various entities. The Israeli military's statement mentioned the ongoing investigation into the identities of the three militants killed during the operation. They are actively checking the possibility that one of them was Sinwar, but no definitive confirmation has been made.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on Israel's investigation. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters that US officials have been in close contact with Israeli officials throughout the morning.

Hamas has not yet confirmed or denied reports of Sinwar's death. They simply posted on Telegram, urging people to be cautious of "fake news" and to rely solely on the terror group's official statements on social media.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that there were no indications that any hostages were harmed during the blast that killed the three terrorists on Thursday.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared to celebrate Sinwar's alleged death on X, posting a silhouette of the terror leader with an X across his face alongside photos of other slain Hamas leaders. Quoting Leviticus 26, Gallant wrote, "You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword. Our enemies cannot hide. We will pursue and eliminate them."

This remains a developing story.