Israel Confirms Yahya Sinwar Killed in Rafah

Jerusalem, 17 October, 2024 (TPS) -- Israeli officials verified on Saturday nighth that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 massacre, was killed in during chance encounter with Israeli soldiers in Rafah.

“Yahya Sinwar was eliminated after hiding for the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip. The dozens of operations carried out by the [Israel Defense Forces] and the [Shin Bet security agency] over the last year, and in recent weeks in the area where he was eliminated, restricted Yahya Sinwar’s operational movement as he was pursued by the forces and led to his elimination,” the IDF said.

The IDF said three terrorists were killed after Israeli forces identified a building suspected to house terrorists. A tank fired on the structure, where Sinwar is believed to have been located. Evidence from the scene suggests Sinwar was struck by the tank fire. Infantry forces who entered the building discovered the bodies along with  a large amount of cash and forged documents.

Sinwar was promoted to Hamas leader after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier in July.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.