Israel confirms killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar

Jerusalem: Israel announced on Thursday night that Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 2023 attacks that claimed 1200 lives in Israel and left over 250 captives, has been killed, dealing another blow to Hamas.

"After a long and determined pursuit that lasted an entire year, our forces have eliminated Yahya Sinvar, the leader of the Hamas terror organisation and the main person responsible for the massacre and kidnapping of many Israelis. I have now met the force that eliminated him yesterday in clashes in the Gaza strip," said Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) late Thursday evening.

Earlier, the IDF had said it killed three terrorists during an operation, north of the Gaza Strip and was investigating the possibility that one of them was Yahya Sinwar.

A few hours later, the IDF confirmed Sinwar's elimination.

"The force acted correctly with professionalism and determination, not because it knew Sinwar was there but because our fighters operate with excellence in every encounter with terrorists, in all sectors," said Halevi.

"The courage and determination of the IDF forces, working in all arenas, brought him to his end. We said we would get to him, and we did get to him. The world is now better off without him," he added.

Sinwar was appointed head of Hamas' political bureau, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran while attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian in July, this year.

Israel claimed that Sinwar, 61, who has not been seen publicly since last year's horrific October 7 attacks, remains at large in Gaza's extensive tunnel network, moving frequently and possibly surrounded by hostages.

"We will continue to pursue and eliminate all those who threaten the citizens of the State of Israel. We will not stop until we catch all the terrorists who were involved in 7/10 and return all the abductees home," the IDF chief stated after confirmation of Sinwar's death.

Last month, a Hamas official said that Sinwar will remain in the Gaza Strip and is "willing to die for Palestine".

The statement was made in response to an Israeli proposal offering a safe exit for Sinwar from Gaza in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages, Al-Aqsa TV reported.

"Today evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his first reaction after Hamas chief's killing.

The IDF detailed that, so far, dozens of terrorists have been eliminated in precise strikes by Israeli Air Force aircraft and in face-to-face battles, and many weapons and buildings that the enemy has fortified for terrorist activities have been destroyed.

With inputs from IANS