The Israeli military and the Shin Bet (General Security Service) announced that the leader of Hamas and architect of the October 7th mass attack, Yahya Shinuar, is dead.
In a joint statement, they claim that recent operations by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet narrowed Sinwar’s area of operations, leading to his death.
The Israeli army’s announcement in detail
“Yahia Sinwar, the leader of the terrorist organization Hamas, responsible for planning and executing the October 7th massacre, has been killed.
The IDF and ISA confirm that after a year-long manhunt, yesterday (Wednesday), October 16, 2024, soldiers from the IDF Southern Command eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the terrorist organization Hamas, in an operation in the south of the Gaza Strip. Yahya Shinuar planned and executed the October 7 Massacre, promoted his murderous ideology before and during the war, and was responsible for the murder and kidnapping of many Israelis.
Yahya Sinwar was killed while hiding behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground, in the Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip. The dozens of operations carried out by the IDF and ISA over the past year, and in recent weeks in the area where he was killed, restricted Yahya Sinuar’s operational movement while he was pursued by forces and led to his elimination.
In recent weeks, IDF and ISA forces, under the command of Southern Command, have been operating in the southern Gaza Strip, following intelligence from the IDF and ISA that pointed to the suspected locations of senior Hamas members. IDF soldiers from the 828th Brigade (Bishlach) operating in the area identified and eliminated three terrorists. Upon completion of the body identification process, it can be confirmed that Yahya Sinuar was killed.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister previously confirmed Sinwar’s death
In a message to dozens of foreign ministers around the world, Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirms that Hamas leader Yahya Shinwar was killedbecoming the first Israeli official to do so on record.
“Mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, responsible for the October 7 massacre and atrocities, was killed today by soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces,” Katz said, according to his office.
“This is a great military and moral achievement for Israel and a victory for the entire free world against the evil axis of radical Islam led by Iran,” he continues.