Israel's Foreign Minister has confirmed that Israeli troops have killed Yahya Sinwar, a top Hamas leader, during ongoing operations in Gaza. Sinwar, considered a key architect of last year's attack on Israel that ignited the current war, had been at the top of Israel's most wanted list since the conflict began over a year ago. His elimination is seen as a significant blow to Hamas, which has faced sustained Israeli military pressure.
As one of the highest-ranking figures within the militant organization, his removal is expected to impact Hamas' leadership and operational capabilities. The situation in Gaza remains tense as Israeli forces continue their offensive against the group. Foreign Minister Katz called Sinwar's killing a “military and moral achievement for the Israeli army”.
“The assassination of Sinwar will create the possibility to immediately release the hostages and to bring a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza - without Hamas and without Iranian control,” he said in a statement.
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's reaction
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had "settled its account" with Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader responsible for what Netanyahu described as the "worst massacre in the history of our people since the Holocaust." Netanyahu referred to Sinwar's death as a significant turning point in Israel's war to recover the hostages being held in Gaza. He also assured that individuals in Gaza who surrendered their weapons and assisted in the return of the hostages would be permitted to leave the region safely. Meanwhile, he also added, "Our war has not yet ended."
Hams refutes claims of Sinwar's killing
However, Hamas has denied Israel's claim, terming it "false and inaccurate news". "The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, expresses deep astonishment at the false and inaccurate news circulated about the "assassination" of one of its leaders. We affirm that these reports are entirely untrue and part of a systematic campaign aimed at disrupting the ranks of the movement and creating chaos and tension in Palestinian streets," Hamas said in a statement. "After reviewing all reliable sources and communicating with official parties, we categorically confirm that the leadership of the movement is safe, and no harm has come to any of its members or leaders. We see that these malicious rumours are part of hostile attempts to weaken the morale of the Palestinian people and incite discord among its members," it added.
"We are committed to providing accurate information through our official channels, and we affirm that the movement continues to fulfill its national duty and play its role in resisting occupation and liberating Palestinian land," read the statement.
About Yahya Sinwar
Sinwar became the head of Hamas after the killing of the previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an explosion in Iran in July that was widely blamed on Israel. Sinwar was born in 1962 in a refugee camp in the Gaza town of Khan Younis. He was an early member of Hamas, which was formed in 1987. He eventually led the group's security arm, which worked to purge it of informants for Israel. Israel arrested him in the late 1980s and he admitted to killing 12 suspected collaborators, a role that earned him the nickname "The Butcher of Khan Younis".
(With inputs from AP)
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