Barran Press
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service announced on Thursday that they are investigating the possibility of assassinating Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas's political bureau, during an operation in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the IDF confirmed that three Hamas members were killed during their activities, and while they are examining whether one of the deceased was Sinwar, they cannot yet confirm their identities. Israeli Channel 12 reported, citing Israeli sources, that Sinwar has been killed.
The statement indicated that there were no signs of Israeli captives at the site where the Hamas members were located, and that forces were operating cautiously in the area. The IDF did not specify the location of the incident, but social media circulated an image purportedly showing a body with a severely damaged head, claimed to be Sinwar's.
Israeli media outlets, including the Walla website and Kan Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, reported that assessments regarding Sinwar's potential death have strengthened. Kan cited security sources noting that, since Sinwar had previously been imprisoned in Israel, they possess his DNA, making it relatively straightforward to confirm his identity.
An unnamed Israeli minister informed Channel 12 that "Yahya Sinwar appears to have been killed," while an unnamed diplomatic source told the Israeli Army Radio that "Israel has informed its regional counterparts that Sinwar is no longer alive."
Reports indicated that the body had not yet been removed from the building, but a sample had been taken for testing. During the attack, it was initially unknown that Sinwar was present, with indications suggesting that the operation may have occurred by chance. Security forces had observed armed individuals in the building before opening fire.
However, Channel 13 reported unnamed security officials stating that the forces were not in the area by coincidence, as Shin Bet had recently identified it as a hideout for senior Hamas officials. There was significant intelligence focus on the area, leading to military pressure that may have prompted Sinwar to act as a wanted individual, resulting in his potential exposure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his military secretary to inform families of Israeli captives that there were no indications of harm to hostages during the operation. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted at Sinwar's assassination in a post on X, stating, "We will reach every saboteur and kill them."
Sinwar is considered the top target for the IDF in Gaza, accused of orchestrating the "Flood of Al-Aqsa" operation, and his assassination could symbolize a significant victory for Israel. Hamas announced Sinwar's election as the head of its political bureau on August 6, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed by Israel in Tehran.
Born in 1962 in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Sinwar has remained largely out of public view since October 7, and had not frequently appeared since his release in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal, due to the insistence of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, to include him in the exchange.