Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader and architect of the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, was tracked and killed by Israeli troops after a year-long manhunt, according to a statement from Israeli authorities on Thursday. Video footage from an Israeli mini drone showed Sinwar, slumped in a chair, covered in dust in the ruins of a building in southern Gaza. Badly wounded, he attempted to knock down the hovering drone with a stick, in what appeared to be a desperate final act before his death.
Israeli officials revealed that infantry soldiers from the Bislach Brigade, conducting routine searches in the Tal El Sultan area of Gaza, encountered three suspected militants moving between buildings. A gunfight ensued, forcing Sinwar to flee into a nearby building, which was hit by tank shells and a missile. Initially, troops did not realize they had killed Sinwar, Israel’s most-wanted militant, but final identification was confirmed using dental records, fingerprints, and DNA testing.
Unlike other targeted strikes on Hamas leaders, including the assassination of military commander Mohammed Deif earlier in the summer, Sinwar’s death came during a regular infantry operation rather than a specialized mission. The soldiers involved found him with a weapon, a flak jacket, and 40,000 shekels, further confirming his identity.
In his final months, Sinwar had reportedly ceased using any form of electronic communication to evade Israel’s intelligence services. Israeli authorities believe he spent much of his time hiding within Gaza’s vast underground tunnel network. Despite the elaborate efforts to remain hidden, Sinwar’s movements became increasingly restricted as Israeli forces uncovered more of the tunnels, eventually leading to his capture and death.
Israeli officials had long suspected that Sinwar might use hostages as human shields to avoid capture. While no hostages were found near him at the time of his death, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari indicated that Sinwar’s DNA had been found in a tunnel close to where six Israeli hostages were executed by Hamas in August.
The death of Sinwar marks a significant blow to Hamas, though the group has yet to issue an official statement. Sources within Hamas have reportedly acknowledged that indications point to Sinwar being killed by Israeli forces, signaling the end of a prolonged manhunt for one of Israel’s most wanted enemies.
