Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly killed in Gaza raid

"The IDF [is] checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar," stated the Israel Defense Forces in a Thursday announcement. At the same time, the military noted that they are currently unable to confirm the identity of one of the three terrorists who died in this attack.

Photos from the scene of the attack have appeared online. They show a man who looks like Sinwar. The images are too graphic to publish.

Israeli state television reported that Sinwar was among the deceased. A source in Israeli security services reportedly conveyed this information.

The same information is also reported by Sky News. Sinwar was allegedly killed in Rafah.

Additionally, the army reported there is no indication that Israeli hostages were present in the attacked building, aside from the terrorists.

Yahya Sinwar was one of the co-founders of Hamas' security apparatus and the second most powerful figure in the organization. He was one of the architects of the attacks on Israel that took place on October 7, 2023.

Sinwar consistently advocated for armed struggle against Israel and opposed any form of compromise. He was known for his fiery speeches and enjoyed the "absolute loyalty of the Hamas ranks."

The war in the Gaza Strip erupted after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which nearly 1,200 people were killed and 251 were kidnapped. According to the Gaza Strip health ministry, over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory operation against Hamas. The Palestinian semi-enclave is devastated, and a humanitarian crisis prevails.