Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the horrific October 7 attack on Israel – has been killed in an IDF operation in Gaza's Rafah, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Thursday. "This is a significant military and moral achievement for Israel and a victory for the entire free world against the axis of evil of radical Islam led by Iran," Katz said. He added, "The elimination of Sinwar opens the possibility for the immediate release of the hostages and paves the way for a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza—without Hamas and without Iranian control."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video message on his X account with the tweet: ‘We eliminated Sinwar.’
'Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar'
The IDF confirmed the news with a brief three-word tweet: "Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar."
'Justice Delivered'
The official account of the State of Israel posted: "A year ago on the holiday of Sukkot, Yahya Sinwar orchestrated the horrific October 7th Massacre in which more than 1,200 Israeli men, women and children were butchered. 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐢 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬. Justice has been delivered. Every single terrorist who harms Israelis will pay the price."
Israel Police Confirms ID After 'Full Dental Match'
Israeli media outlets earlier published a police document showing that one of the identification tests conducted on the body that was recovered earlier today found a "full match" to Sinwar.
The IDF, in an earlier tweet, announced the "possibility" that one of the three terrorists eliminated during its military operation in southern Gaza's Rafah could be Sinwar. "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. At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed," the IDF wrote on X.
Warning: The following tweet contains graphic content
Israeli media reports said that the IDF troops were not aware that Sinwar might be present in the area where they were operating. As per the Times of Israel, the IDF troops spotted some Hamas fighters entering a building and launched a strike against it, which partially destroyed the structure. It was only after the troops came to inspect the damage they realised that one of those killed might be Sinwar.
No Presence Of Hostages
The IDF also stated that there were no signs of hostages in the area. "In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution."
Sinwar Made Hamas Chief After Haniyeh Assassination
Earlier this year, Hamas named Sinwar, who was its top official in Gaza and masterminded the horrific October 7 attacks in Israel, as its new leader after his predecessor – Ismail Haniyeh – was killed in a presumed Israeli strike in Iran.
Warning: The following tweet contains graphic content
The selection of Sinwar, a secretive figure close to Iran who worked for years to build up Hamas' military strength, was a defiant signal that the group is prepared to keep fighting despite destruction from Israel's campaign in Gaza and after the assassination of Haniyeh.
It was also likely to provoke Israel, which put him at the top of its kill list after the October 7 attack, in which militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took about 250 as hostages.
Hamas said in a statement it named Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau to replace Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast that Iran and Hamas blamed on Israel.
(With inputs from AP)