Jerusalem: After a year-long manhunt, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the elimination of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s top leader, in a firefight in southern Gaza. The operation, carried out with the collaboration of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, dealt a significant blow to Hamas amid the ongoing conflict that began with the group’s attacks on October 7, 2023.
The Manhunt and Final Moments
According to Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Sinwar was tracked moving covertly “from house to house” in Gaza’s Rafah district, trying to evade capture. On October 16, 2024, IDF soldiers from the 828th Brigade (Bislach) identified three militants, including Sinwar, and engaged them.
During the firefight, Sinwar’s group dispersed, and he fled alone into a damaged building. A drone operated by the IDF captured footage of the wounded Hamas chief—his hand severely injured and his face wrapped in a scarf—making a futile attempt to fend off the drone with a stick.
Capture and Confirmation
The IDF later confirmed that Sinwar was found armed with a gun and 40,000 shekels, suggesting he was actively on the run. After positively identifying his body, the military declared the mission a success, with no hostages found in the area.
Hagari emphasized that Sinwar’s elimination disrupted Hamas’s operations, but the search for other key leaders continues.
Background and Leadership Shift
Yahya Sinwar replaced Ismail Haniyeh as Hamas chief in August 2024 after Haniyeh’s death in Iran on July 31—an incident attributed to Israeli intelligence, though Israel did not officially comment. Sinwar, alongside Mohammed Deif, was accused of orchestrating the October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians.
The conflict has since escalated, with retaliatory strikes by Israel killing 42,438 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations has validated these statistics as accurate.
Impact on Hamas’s Future Operations
While the killing of Sinwar marks a significant tactical victory for Israel, analysts suggest Hamas will likely regroup under a new leader. The removal of key figures like Sinwar has caused disruptions within the movement, but Hamas’s history of resilience indicates that the conflict in Gaza is far from over.
