On Thursday, news began circulating that Yahya Sinwar, 62, a senior Hamas leader, had been killed during a clash with Israeli trainee soldiers who happened upon him by chance. By Friday, Hamas officially confirmed his death, which occurred during a battle in Tal as-Sultan, Rafah, on Wednesday.
Who was Yahya Sinwar?
Yahya Sinwar had been leading Hamas in Gaza following the deaths of key figures, including Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior commander Mohammed Deif in Gaza, earlier in the year. Sinwar was a key figure within Hamas, previously spending 22 years in Israeli prison before being released in 2011 during a prisoner exchange. He played a significant role in coordinating Hamas’s responses to Israeli military actions and was central to ceasefire negotiations. During peace talks in Cairo and Doha, Hamas negotiators frequently deferred to Sinwar for instructions.
How was Sinwar killed? Was it part of a specific operation?
No, Sinwar’s death was not part of a planned operation. Between 2 pm and 3 pm on Wednesday, a patrol from the Israeli army’s Bislach Brigade training unit was conducting searches in the Tal as-Sultan neighborhood when they encountered a small group of fighters. One of these fighters was later identified as Sinwar. After an exchange of fire that killed three fighters, Sinwar retreated into a damaged building, where he attempted to evade Israeli forces. Despite being injured, he defiantly threw a stick at a drone that was searching the area. Israeli tanks and missiles then shelled the building, killing him. His body remained untouched for some time due to concerns about booby traps, but after the area was secured, it was retrieved and identified through dental and fingerprint records.
Where was Sinwar killed?
Sinwar was killed in Tal as-Sultan, a neighborhood that the Israeli army had already largely destroyed. According to investigative group Bellingcat, the location was verified through footage captured by the Israeli army in September. This indicates that Israeli forces were already familiar with the area before encountering Sinwar.
Did Israel find Sinwar using intelligence?
The discovery of Sinwar was not the result of a direct intelligence operation. According to reports, the Israeli trainee unit that found him was unaware that he was in the area. However, both the U.S. and Israel have claimed that their intelligence efforts helped narrow down the locations where Sinwar could be operating. Despite this, Sinwar remained elusive, evading one of the world’s most advanced surveillance networks by avoiding electronic communications that could be tracked.
What resources were deployed to locate Sinwar?
Sinwar had been Israel’s top target since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. A special unit was formed within Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, dedicated to finding him. U.S. agencies also provided support, intercepting electronic communications and using ground-penetrating radar to aid the search. However, Sinwar’s ability to avoid detection was largely due to his limited use of electronic devices, making him difficult to track despite the extensive resources deployed.
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