Yahya Sinwar, 62, the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel is dead. Earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet confirmed that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday “in a clash with Israeli forces in southern Gaza where operations intensified based on intelligence pinpointing the whereabouts of senior Hamas leaders” (Ynet News).
The Times of Israel reports that “the 162nd Division and Gaza Division have been operation in Gaza in areas where intelligence indicates senior Hamas officials have been hiding. A force from the 828th Bislamach Brigade killed three terrorists, and one of them was identified today as Sinwar.”
“According to initial reports, the Hamas leader was killed by tank fire called in by IDF soldiers who had identified armed terrorists in a building. When the soldiers subsequently searched the premises, they discovered that one of the bodies bore a striking resemblance to Sinwar” (JNS).
Telegraph reports, “Photographs from the scene showed the corpse of Sinwar, Israel’s most wanted man, with a bloody hole in his skull. The assassination marks the most significant killing of the year-long war and a significant victory for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, who had long described him as a ‘dead man walking.’”
Ynet News notes,
IDF forces discovered large amounts of Israeli cash and identifying documents on the terrorists’ bodies. Due to the presence of explosives and grenades, drones were initially used to examine the bodies.
One of the terrorists bore a strong resemblance to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, leading troops to believe they may have killed him unintentionally, without prior intelligence. The exact location of the raid remains undisclosed for security reasons.
To confirm Sinwar’s identity, soldiers photographed the body and sent the images to the Israeli police’s forensic unit. Assistant Commissioner Aliza Raziel, head of the unit, confirmed that the teeth in the photos matched Sinwar’s dental records from his time in Israeli custody.
‘We had Sinwar’s dental data on file, and the match was clear,’ Raziel said. ‘This was one of the most significant moments this year, allowing us to quickly provide critical information to the field.’
Further evidence suggesting Sinwar’s death included the presence of a senior Hamas commander known to frequently accompany him. Reports from Gaza indicated the other two terrorists killed were Sinwar’s bodyguards, one of whom worked as a teacher for UNRWA and the other a high-ranking official in Hamas’ National Security Office.
Reuters reports,
Sinwar, who was named as Hamas’ overall leader following the assassination of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, was believed to have been hiding in the warren of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza over the past two decades.
His death could dial up hostilities in the Middle East where the prospect of an even wider conflict has grown. Israel has launched a ground campaign in Lebanon over the past month and is now planning a response to an Oct. 1 missile attack carried out by Iran, ally of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
But the demise of the man who planned the attack last year in which fighters killed 1,200 people in Israel and captured more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies, could also help push forward stalled efforts to end the war in which Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz celebrated Sinwar’s death on Thursday, stating, “This is a great military and moral victory for Israel and the entire free world against the radical Islamist axis of evil led by Iran. The elimination of Sinwar creates possibilities to immediately free the hostages and bring a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza without Hamas and without Iranian control” (The Times of Israel).
Regarding the status of the hostages, The Jerusalem Post reports,
Sinwar was widely believed to be hiding in Hamas tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip, never staying in one location for too long and avoiding communications technologies, relying on messengers.
The Hamas terror chief was believed to be surrounded by the remaining hostages as a human shield, which had reportedly prevented the IDF from striking and killing him. Again, the IDF reiterated in their statement that no signs of hostages were present at the site of the strike.
Conflicting reports emerged of whether Sinwar had left the tunnels over the course of the Israel-Hamas War, and the IDF obtained footage of the Hamas chief walking through the tunnels in February of this year.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to notify the families of the hostages about Sinwar’s death and that there was no indication that any of the hostages were hurt in the deadly battle with Sinwar.
On Thursday evening, Netanyahu addressed the nation of Israel, stating,
We have a great opportunity to halt the [Iranian-led] axis of evil and to create a different future. A future of peace, a future of prosperity for the entire region.
Now it is clear to everyone, in Israel and in the world why we insisted on not ending the war, why we insisted in the face of all the pressures to enter Rafah, the fortified stronghold of Hamas where Sinwar and many of the murderers hid. (The Jerusalem Post)
To the families of the hostages who have been held for over one year, Netanyahu promised, “This is an important moment in the war. We will continue to work with all our powers to bring home all your loved ones, who are our loved ones. This is our highest commitment. This is my highest commitment” (The Jerusalem Post).
To the Hamas terrorists, Netanyahu added, “Your leaders are fleeing and they are being killed… whoever lays down arms, we will allow him to leave and to live. Whoever attacks our forces, his blood is on his own head” (Breitbart).
Netanyahu also directed his comments to the Palestinians in Gaza, “telling them that Sinwar had ‘destroyed’ their lives. While pretending to be brave, he was killed trying to flee.’” He added, “Hamas will no longer govern in Gaza.” (Breitbart)
Netanyahu added: “To the nations of the region I say: the darkness is in retreat and the light is rising. We can find a different future, a future of peace” (Breitbart).
He closed with a verse from Psalms (18:38): “I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them, never turning back until they were consumed” (Breitbart).
Blessors of Israel is closing monitoring all developments related to Israel’s seven-front war. Please join me in praying for the safe return of the hostages and for the peace of Israel and her people.
by Dr. Matthew Dodd | October 17, 2024