“Israeli” army: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) announced that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed. 

The statement said that after a year-long pursuit, “Israeli” soldiers from the Southern Command killed Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday, October 16.

It further claimed that intelligence by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and the “Israeli” Security Agency (ISA) pointed to a suspected location of Hamas senior members.

“Soldiers of the 828th Brigade (Bislach) operating in the area identified and eliminated three terrorists,” it added.

“After completing the process of identifying the body, it can be confirmed that Yahya Sinwar was eliminated,” the statement concluded.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Chief of General Staff said that they “settled accounts” with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, following a statement by the IOF claiming his killing.

In a visit to the site where Yahya Sinwar was allegedly killed, Herzi Halevi told troops: “This is your professionalism and determination”.

Halevi was accompanied by the head of Shin Bet Ronen Bar, Commander of the Southern Command, Colonel Yaron Finkelman, the head of the Operations Division, Colonel Oded Basiouk and the commander of the Gaza Division, sub- General Barak Hiram.

“Israeli” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar provided an "opportunity" to release the captives held in Gaza and to remove the group from the Strip.

"The elimination of Sinwar creates an opportunity for the immediate release of the hostages and paves the way for a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza, one that is without Hamas and without Iranian control," Katz said in a statement.

Who is Yahya Sinwar? 

Yahya Sinwar is considered by "Israel" to be the architect behind Operation Aqsa Typhoon, which commenced on October 7, 2023.

This operation has inflicted significant losses on the Israeli Occupation's military and intelligence systems and has severely impacted the image of the occupation's security apparatus globally.

Born on October 19, 1962, in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza, Sinwar's family fled from Majdal, a city that was occupied by 'Israel' in 1948. He received his education at Khan Younis Secondary School for Boys and later graduated with a bachelor's degree in Arabic studies from the Islamic University of Gaza.

Sinwar became politically active during his university years as a member of the Islamic Bloc, which is the student wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine. He held various leadership roles within the student council at the Islamic University and co-founded a security organization known as "Mujahid," tasked with identifying and pursuing 'Israeli' collaborators.

Imprisonment and Release

Sinwar was first arrested in 1982 due to his student activities. Over the years, he was detained multiple times, receiving a total of four life sentences plus 426 years for his involvement in kidnapping and killing 'Israeli' soldiers, as well as for the murder of four Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israeli Occupation. During his imprisonment, he led the leadership body of Hamas prisoners and organized several hunger strikes against prison authorities.

In 2011, Sinwar was released as part of the prisoner exchange for 'Israeli' soldier Gilad Shalit, after more than five years in captivity. Following his release, he quickly became a significant figure within Hamas, taking on roles that included leadership of the military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades.

Leadership in Hamas

Elected president of Hamas in Gaza in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, Sinwar played a pivotal role in coordinating military and political strategies within the movement. He was involved in significant military operations, including the 2014 Gaza War, where he evaluated the performance of field commanders and implemented necessary leadership changes.

Sinwar was appointed head of negotiations concerning 'Israeli' prisoners held by Hamas and became a prominent target for 'Israeli' assassination efforts due to his influential role in the organization. The recent escalation in hostilities has only heightened his prominence in the ongoing aggression.

As a leader, Sinwar has been characterized by his firm stance against the Israeli Occupation and has continued to rally support for Hamas amidst ongoing challenges, marking him as a key figure in the current geopolitical landscape.