HAMAS LEADER YAHYA SINWAR DEAD, KILLED BY IDF SOLDIERS IN GAZA FIREFIGHT

Hamas top leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct. 7 invasion and massacre in southern Israel last year, was killed by IDF soldiers during a chance encounter in the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Following initial reports and speculation on Thursday afternoon, Israeli media announced that cabinet ministers were informed of Sinwar's confirmed death after DNA tests were conducted on his body.

Shortly before the announcement, Israeli officials told Army Radio that the terrorist killed in Gaza was, “with high likelihood,” the Hamas leader Sinwar. "All signs point to it,” they said.

Israeli officials earlier told The New York Times that the body was transferred to Israel for a DNA analysis.

The IDF told families of hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza that none of the hostages were harmed in the firefight that resulted in Sinwar's death, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

The first official hint that Sinwar had been killed was issued from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword.” – Leviticus 26. Our enemies cannot hide. We will pursue and eliminate them.” Gallant wrote on 𝕏.

“You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword.” - Leviticus 26

Our enemies cannot hide. We will pursue and eliminate them. pic.twitter.com/FDJ7obPIM7

— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) October 17, 2024

Gallant added an empty, crossed-off photo next to images of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and top Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, both of whom Israel has eliminated in recent months.

The firefight that likely killed Sinwar took place during a chance encounter as part of a routine IDF operation above ground and not in a tunnel, Army Radio reported.

Late on Wednesday, Israeli soldiers spotted several Hamas terrorists entering a building in the area of Rafah, near the Philadelphi Corridor.

They then ordered a tank strike against it, which partially collapsed the building, which was heavily booby-trapped. According to Kan News, suspicions that Sinwar was killed first arose when IDF soldiers inspected the damage with a drone.

Only later did the soldiers arrive and inspect the bodies in person, and realized the close physical resemblance to Sinwar of one of the three bodies found in the half-destroyed building.

The identity of the two other terrorists who were killed has not yet been confirmed. A large amount of Israeli cash and multiple passports were discovered on their bodies.

Pictures ostensibly taken at the scene and circulated on social media showed the body of Sinwar with large head wounds, half buried under the rubble. In one image, several Israeli soldiers are seen standing around the body.

After the initial rumors of Sinwar's death surfaced on social media in the early afternoon, the IDF announced it was investigating the possibility that one of three terrorists who were killed during a routine operation by IDF soldiers in Gaza was Hamas top leader Yahya Sinwar.

"In the building where the terrorists were killed, no signs of the presence of hostages were found in the area. The IDF and Shin Bet forces operating in the area continue to operate under the necessary caution."

"We request to adhere to the wording in question and the censorship guidelines to maintain the security of our forces. More details later," the IDF stated.

The IDF later released a picture of Israeli Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar holding a situation assessment, apparently while flying in a military helicopter.