Charles Bybelezer, Amelie Botbol, JNS
IDF soldiers killed Hamas terror master Yahya Sinwar in a firefight in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, Israeli sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Thursday.
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Death of Yahya Sinwar | The White House LET US HOPE 🙏 https://t.co/L70kAUF16b
— karen langsam 🇮🇱🟦🧡🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@karen_langsam) October 17, 2024
The Israel Police positively identified the corpse of Sinwar, who was killed on Wednesday, several channels and news sites subsequently reported.
He was reportedly identified by his teeth. Official confirmation will follow DNA identification.
Celebrations!#Israel #Hamas #iran #hamasleader #sinwar pic.twitter.com/V608EOxXeC
— Sauvik Raha (@RahaSauvik) October 17, 2024
Reuters cited Hamas sources as saying that all indications suggest the terror master had been killed.
Netanyahu was set to address the nation at 8:30 p.m. local time.
The Israel Defense Forces said earlier Thursday that it was investigating whether Sinwar was one of three terrorists killed by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian enclave.
This is fucking infuriating.
Harris threatened Israel if they went into Rafah.
SINWAR was found in Rafah!!
Chutzpah doesn’t even begin to describe it. https://t.co/Bzufid7W0B
— Pro Israel 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@EX_lifelong_Dem) October 17, 2024
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.
🔴 Netanyahu: Sanwar has been eliminated; Hamas forces should lay down their arms.
#sinwar pic.twitter.com/7ZXcWCKgAx
— Said Masih Noori (@Doctor_N_masih) October 17, 2024
“We will reach every terrorist and eliminate them,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tweeted on Thursday.
“You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword,” added Gallant, quoting Leviticus 26:7.
The X post included pictures of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in an IDF strike in Beirut last month, and former Hamas “military”/Al-Qassam Brigades chief Mohammed Deif, who was killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis in July.
⚡ Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirms Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed.#Israel #Hamas #Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/HEQFlb0oEU
— Paulo Aguiar (@padejesar) October 17, 2024
Later on Thursday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar held a situation assessment.
Shin Bet head Ronen Bar (left) and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi hold a situation assessment, Oct. 17, 2024. Credit: Israel Defense Forces.
The military said on Thursday that while no hostages were found in the building where the three terrorists were killed, “forces continue to operate with the necessary caution in the area.”
Netanyahu instructed the IDF to inform hostage families that there was no indication any hostages were hurt during the battle.
Yahya Sinwar’s legacy is one of destruction and suffering for Gazans, with critics arguing that his leadership in Hamas has led to humanitarian crises and turmoil in the region.
Efrat Machikawa, the niece of captive Gadi Moses, told JNS on Thursday, “I hope all Israelis including the government will remain modest and humble. While this is a military achievement, the most important thing remains saving lives, and by that I mean returning the hostages.”
While the Hamas leader’s elimination is “very important, I remain extremely concerned about [the hostages’] fate. They are in my head and my heart every second since Oct. 7. They are the only ones I think about,” Machikawa added.
For everyone: Sinwar is responsible for the October 7th massacre.
For me: Sinwar is responsible for the murder of my son.
Thank you, IDF, for this important and meaningful moment! pic.twitter.com/h4hXSClcpH— שני אביגל shani avigal (@Shani_avigal) October 17, 2024
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on the Netanyahu government to “take advantage of the opportunity for a decisive move regarding the hostages.
“Strive for a comprehensive deal and offer monetary rewards and safe passage to anyone who brings captives to our forces,” he tweeted.
Qatari officials involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have told family members of hostages that Sinwar had surrounded himself with captives.
This man has just shown the world and in a crystal-clear manner that Israel will find them all and will no longer remain silent against its wicked enemies.
In less than a month, both Hassan Nasrallah and Yahya Sinwar were sent to hell.
We all stand with Benjamin Netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/hcqmarWTKj
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) October 17, 2024
Channel 12 reported that Sinwar had been hiding with the six hostages who were executed and then recovered by the IDF on Aug. 31. The hostages were identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 25, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.
Hamas still holds 101 hostages, including 97 of the 251 taken during the Palestinian terror group’s massacre of some 1,200 people in the northwestern Negev just over a year ago.
Yahya Sinwar was killed by an infantry soldier who has been in the IDF for just 9 months
More uncensored pictures on Telegram channels https://t.co/oAXvBKuaUA pic.twitter.com/wsPis7MGXd
— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) October 17, 2024
“We need to thank the IDF if Sinwar is indeed dead. It also means that there is a lot of anxiety regarding the fate of the 101 hostages,” Ruby Chen, the father of captive Itay Chen, told JNS on Thursday. “Now is the time to leverage this military action for a deal to get them out.
💯🔥BREAKING It’s confirmed: Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader responsible for orchestrating terror and mass murder, has been eliminated by the Israeli army.
For years, Sinwar unleashed a reign of bloodshed, targeting both Israelis and Palestinians with ruthless violence and… pic.twitter.com/96SpGdhuYq
— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) October 17, 2024
“We received an update from IDF sources confirming that there were no hostages in the vicinity with regards to the incident,” he continued. “My message is that now is the time to get a deal done and put an end to all of this.”
Earlier this month, Sinwar reportedly renewed contacts with mediators in Qatar to find out the chances that he could receive immunity in any ceasefire-for-hostages-and-terrorists-release deal.
I congratulate the people of the world.
Israel has eliminated Yahya Sinwar, one of the world’s most notorious terrorists. 🎉🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/Sqwl1vFNM7
— Kämpfer✌🏻 (@AFreedomWarrior) October 17, 2024
Similarly, in August, Ynet reported that Sinwar wanted protection against the possibility of an Israeli assassination. “Sinwar insists on guarantees for his safety and life” a senior Egyptian official said.
Two threats from Qatar led to Sinwar’s emergence from a long silence, according to Channel 12.
Sinwar was convicted on multiple murder counts by an Israeli court and sentenced to five life sentences, which he was supposed to serve until his death. However, in October 2011, he was released from prison—having served 22 years—as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.
Following his release, Sinwar gained power and popularity within Hamas, becoming its Gaza leader in 2017 by defeating Ismail Haniyeh in a vote.
In August, Sinwar was chosen to lead Hamas’s so-called political bureau, replacing Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31.
