Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was killed in a targeted ground operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, southern Gaza. The 828 Brigade discovered his body during their search. Videos circulating on social media show Israeli troops at the scene.
Reports indicate that Israeli forces amputated one of Sinwar’s fingers to confirm his identity through DNA analysis, based on a profile established during his prior imprisonment in Israel. Chen Kugel, the chief pathologist at the Israel National Center of Forensic Medicine, explained that the initial identification attempts using dental records were deemed insufficient.
Kugel confirmed to CNN that Sinwar died from a gunshot wound to the head, although he sustained other injuries, including from a tank shell. Footage analyzed by NDTV corroborated this, showing severe facial injuries.
Before conducting the ground raid, Israeli troops fired a tank round at the hideout to assess damage and check for survivors.
In the aftermath of Sinwar’s death, Hamas is now seeking a new leader outside Gaza, while his brother, Mohammad Sinwar, is poised to take on a more prominent role in the conflict against Israel.
Yahya Sinwar was considered the architect of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that resulted in over 1,200 casualties, leading to a prolonged Israeli military operation in Gaza that has claimed over 40,000 lives. Israel aims to dismantle Hamas’s leadership, having already eliminated several top figures, including former chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Despite the loss of leadership, Hamas has historically been quick to replace its fallen leaders, with its Shura Council responsible for appointing new heads. Following Sinwar’s death, there are hopes for the return of hostages still held in Gaza, but Sinwar’s deputy, Khalil Al-Hayya, has stated that hostages will not be released until Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza and the conflict concludes.