The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that it has eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the notorious Hamas leader, following the discovery of a body bearing a striking resemblance to him in the aftermath of a conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Sinwar, who masterminded the terror attack on October 7, 2023, ascended to the helm of Hamas after the demise of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, in late July.
The IDF released a statement, stating, "Initial report During IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, three terrorists were eliminated. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar. At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed." The statement further clarified that there were no indications of hostages in the vicinity of the building where the terrorists were neutralized. The forces operating in the area are continuing their operations with the necessary caution.
As reported by Breitbart, Sinwar was suspected to have been in hiding underground, using over a dozen hostages as human shields to deter an Israeli airstrike. His potential presence in an above-ground building sparked conjecture that he might have been attempting to flee Gaza.
Images of a deceased body resembling Sinwar began to circulate on social media platforms, as Israeli officials transported the remains back to Israel for DNA testing. Israel has Sinwars DNA on record due to his previous incarceration in the country, during which Israeli doctors treated him for cancer.
According to The Times of Israel, it was only after Israeli soldiers arrived to inspect the damage that they realized one of the three terrorists killed bore a strong resemblance to Sinwar. The IDF is still determining whether the body is indeed Sinwar's, but Channel 12 reports that it has not yet been returned to Israel due to the area where it was discovered being heavily booby-trapped. The body was also found wearing a military vest laden with grenades. A DNA sample has been extracted from the body for expedited testing in Israel.
While the evidence was being scrutinized by Israeli officials, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant posted a quote from Leviticus (26:7) You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword on social media, hinting at Sinwar's demise. Members of the security cabinet were reportedly informed that Sinwar had indeed been killed, although there was no public confirmation as of 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening.
The Jerusalem Post reported that dental and orthodontic experts have confirmed that the body is Sinwars. Army Radio reported that one of the two terrorists found near the body was the leader of Hamass Khan Yunis brigade, known to be close to Sinwar.
Reports on social media suggest that soldiers were merely executing a routine attack on a building where three terrorists had sought refuge. They were taken aback to discover the possible identity of one of the terrorists. Some have speculated that Sinwar's death could facilitate a hostage deal, as he was a significant impediment to such negotiations.
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