Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Jimmy Williams
In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the deadly Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, has been killed in a military operation.
“I stand before you today to inform you that Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday during a military operation in southern Gaza. However, Hamas has not yet confirmed his death.
Sinwar’s death is expected to deal a major blow to Hamas, as he was appointed the group’s political leader in August after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar’s elimination comes as Israel continues its military operations in response to the Oct. 7 attacks, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage.
The IDF did not specifically target Sinwar in the operation, a senior Israeli official told NBC News. “Troops identified him as being among three militants killed during a heavy gun battle,” the official said.
Sinwar’s death follows Israel’s vow to capture or kill him after the Oct. 7 attacks. The Hamas leader, once responsible for daily governance in Gaza, had gone into hiding after the attacks, reportedly using Hamas’ extensive tunnel system to evade capture.
Born in a Gaza refugee camp, Sinwar joined Hamas after its founding in 1987 and played a key role in building its internal security force. He was imprisoned for life in 1988 for his role in killing Israeli soldiers but was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner swap for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Sinwar’s death comes as the families of hostages held by Hamas welcomed the news, hoping it would lead to their release. Of the approximately 250 hostages taken into Gaza, 154 have been freed, while 101 remain captive, with 33 presumed dead, according to Israeli officials.
“I am hopeful that his personal reign of terror has ended,” said Thomas Hand, father of Emily Hand, who was released as part of a cease-fire deal in November. “Perhaps this will weaken their command and bring an end to this terrible war.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz echoed these sentiments, calling Sinwar’s death an “opportunity for the immediate release of hostages” and the beginning of a new chapter for Gaza, potentially free from Hamas’ control.
However, experts caution that Sinwar’s killing may not significantly change the situation for hostages or the broader conflict. “It’s a very happy moment for every Israeli, but I don’t think it’s going to change the situation for the kidnapped,” said Ronni Shaked, a fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
As Israel’s offensive continues, more than 42,400 people have been killed in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks, according to health officials in the region.
