Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in Gaza, was killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday after evading capture for over a year. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed the news.

Sinwar masterminded the deadly October 7, 2023, attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis, captured 250 hostages, and sparked the conflict in Gaza that has resulted in over 40,000 deaths so far, according to the region’s Health Ministry. Following the July assassination of Ishmail Haniyeh, Sinwar was serving as Hamas’ political leader.

His body was found after a firefight in Gaza.

Sinwar was in Israeli prisons for two decades, during which he studied Israeli society and military weaknesses, which helped him rise through Hamas’s leadership.

His death may be a turning point in the conflict. US officials believe this could improve chances of ending the Israel-Hamas war, which has caused a humanitarian crisis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Evil suffered a heavy blow,” addressing the killing, but added that the task of eliminating Hamas is not yet complete, signaling that the war will continue.