The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed today that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in an airstrike in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Sinwar was reportedly killed yesterday after IDF soldiers called in an airstrike on a building from which Hamas fighters had opened fire on them.
The strike partially collapsed the building.
When soldiers entered the building, they found the body of a militant strongly resembling the terror leader.
Dental photographs and a DNA sample were sent to Israel, where it was confirmed to be Sinwar.
Two other Hamas militants were also killed in the airstrike, including a division commander from the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis who is believed to have worked closely with Sinwar.
The IDF reported that no Israeli hostages were in the area at the time.
Sinwar, previously Hamas’ military leader in Gaza, became chairman of the group’s political bureau after predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on 31 July in an Israeli-orchestrated bombing in an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) guesthouse in Tehran.
Sinwar, the main architect behind Hamas’ murderous incursion into southern Israel on 7 October 2023, was believed to have been hiding in the group’s vast network of underground tunnels inside Gaza.
The terror leader would travel from safehouse to safehouse, often surrounded by Israeli hostages used as human shields.
IDF operations in Gaza severely limited Sinwar’s movements, and he reportedly only communicated through personal couriers delivering handwritten messages.
Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have already demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu leverage Sinwar’s death to broker a deal.
It is believed that 101 hostages remain in Gaza, though at least 48 are believed have already died.
Though the IDF has severely limited Hamas’ ability to launch rockets or conduct offensive operations from Gaza, the risk for primitive terror attacks by Palestinian nationalists inside of Israel remains high.
Personnel throughout Israel should follow directions from authorities due to the ongoing threat of missile and drone attack from Iran and its ally, Lebanon’s Hizbollah militia. Points north of Haifa should be avoided.
With terrorism in mind, they should follow serious precautions.
In West Jerusalem, they should minimize their exposure to other traditional targets, such as markets, malls, cafes (especially outdoor cafes), pubs, restaurants and nightclubs other than those in business-class hotels. Certainly, they should not linger near entrances of such places, where guards, even those who are armed, would be hard put to stop a determined shooter or bomber. Personnel also should give wide berth to uniformed Israeli soldiers or police, who are terrorist targets.
The Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem should be avoided, including the Chain Gate to the Temple Mount and the Jaffa, Damascus, Lions’ and Herod’s gates entry points to the Old City itself.
The Western Wall may be visited but should be accessed via the Dung Gate. Newcomers ideally should be accompanied by trusted locals or tour guides.
The flashpoint Temple Mount itself should not be visited at any time.
East Jerusalem, Jewish neighborhoods included, should be avoided.
Risks elsewhere in Israel are less severe than in Jerusalem, but it is prudent to forgo outdoor dining in Tel Aviv and Haifa.
It is also wise to avoid public transportation hubs and city bus systems.
Personnel should avoid Arab towns and villages in northern Israel.
