Hamas dealt its most severe blow yet following a year of war post-October 7th.
Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas Political Bureau and Hamas military leader in the Gaza Strip was eliminated by an IDF tank squadron in the Rafah section of the Gaza Strip Thursday, according to the IDF. Sinwar was responsible for exacting decades of terror on the Jewish state including masterminding the October 7th massacre that resulted in the death of more than 1,200 Israelis.
Pictures started to circulate on social media Thursday morning of a corpse that bore a striking resemblance to Sinwar (warning, graphic image). Shortly thereafter, news broke that the IDF was performing DNA testing on the corpse which ultimately came back with a positive identification.
Sinwar had gone radio silent over the past few months, allegedly using a low-tech communication system to interact with his force. Israeli intelligence knew he was hiding in Rafah, but were unable to locate him until Thursday’s encounter.
With Sinwar’s location unknown, his elimination was a complete surprise for the IDF. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that IDF infantry operating alongside a tank unit had identified a group of men running into a building. The unit opened fire on the building with a tank shell, eliminating the men and burying their bodies under the rubble. IDF drones found the bodies which were then captured and identified by ground troops.
Pictures and videos posted on social media showed people dancing, cheering, and even crying in various public settings.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also joyous but stern in a press conference officially announcing the death of Sinwar.
“Today we have settled the score. This is the beginning of the day after Hamas,” said Netanyahu before continuing, “To those holding our hostages I say: whoever lays down their weapons and returns our hostages – we will enable them to leave alive. At the same time I say: anyone who harms our hostages – their blood will be upon their own head. We will hold them to account.”
Netanyahu also acknowledged that there are still challenges facing Israel in Gaza. Hamas still has militants camped out in tunnels throughout the Strip, and Israeli hostages are still held. Israeli and U.S. officials are worried that the news of Sinwar’s death could move the remaining Hamas militants to execute the remaining hostages.
