Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the October 7 attack on Israel was killed, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed on Thursday (Oct 17).
“Yahya Sinwar was eliminated and ended his life, beaten, persecuted and fled. His elimination is a clear message to the families of the fallen and abducted – we are doing everything and will continue to do it. Residents of Gaza, the end of the man who killed you in a disaster has arrived, go out with the kidnapped, free them and surrender,” Gallant said in a video message on X.
The statement added, “In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution.”
“Evil has suffered a severe blow,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following the confirmation of Sinwar’s death in a southern Gaza shootout.
Who was Yahya Sinwar?
Yahya Sinwar, aged 62, orchestrated the October 7 attack on Israel and took on the role of Hamas leader in August, following the death of Ismail Haniyeh, his predecessor, in an explosion in Iran.
Sinwar was born in 1962 in Khan Younis, a refugee camp in Gaza. He was one of the early members of Hamas, which was founded in 1987. He later took charge of the group’s security division, which focused on eliminating individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel.
In the early 1980s, Sinwar was frequently arrested by Israeli authorities for his involvement in protests against Israel, particularly during his time at the Islamic University in Gaza.
Upon completing his studies, he established a network of fighters trained for armed resistance against Israel. This group eventually became the Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas.
In the late 1980s, Sinwar was arrested by Israel and confessed to killing 12 suspected collaborators, which earned him the nickname “The Butcher of Khan Younis.” He was sentenced to four life terms for various crimes, including the killing of two Israeli soldiers.
During his 23 years in Israeli prison, Sinwar learned Hebrew and developed a deep understanding of Israel’s political landscape. In 2011, he was released as part of a prisoner swap that saw Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit being freed by Hamas.
After returning to Gaza, Sinwar quickly rose within the ranks of the Palestinian militant group. He was elected to the group’s political bureau in 2012 and tasked with coordinating with the Qassam Brigades.
In 2015, the United States designated him as a “specially designated global terrorist.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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