Yahya Sinwar, the recently appointed leader of Hamas, was killed in a gunfight in Gaza less than two months after taking charge of the group. At 60 years old, Sinwar had played a key role in planning the October 7 attack that resulted in multiple deaths in Israel.
On Thursday, the Israeli military confirmed that Sinwar, who became Hamas leader in August after the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyeh, was killed during a clash between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.
His body was recovered following the Wednesday clashes in Gaza, with Israeli authorities verifying his identity through dental and fingerprint records.
Hamas has not yet officially acknowledged Sinwar’s death. His brief leadership followed Haniyeh’s assassination in Iran on July 31.
Sinwar’s death is another chapter in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Before his appointment, Sinwar was a key figure within Hamas, having joined in the 1980s and serving as its Gaza leader since 2017.