Security officials have said that the chances that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in a strike in Gaza are "increasingly higher," Israeli media reported on Thursday.
גורמי ביטחון לגלי צה״ל: מעריכים בסבירות גבוהה שאכן מדובר בסינוואר, כל הסימנים מעידים על כך
— דורון קדוש | Doron Kadosh (@Doron_Kadosh) October 17, 2024
The IDF and Shin Bet (ISA) put out a joint statement on the possible assassination earlier Thursday.
"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 IDF said.
"In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution."
Sky News Arabia published a report shortly after, quoting a security official as saying that his death is confirmed.
Sinwar orchestrated the October 7 Massacre, which led to the deaths of over 1,200 people, including Israelis and other nationalities alike, and the taking of over 250 hostages, of which 101 remain in Gaza.
Of the 101 hostages, the IDF confirmed that 48 were killed in captivity.
Sinwar was widely believed to be hiding in Hamas tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip, never staying in one location for too long and avoiding communications technologies, relying on messengers.
Human shields
The Hamas terror chief was believed to be surrounded by the remaining hostages as a human shield, which has reportedly prevented the IDF from striking and killing him. Again, the IDF reiterated in their statement that no signs of hostages were present at the site of the strike.
Conflicting reports emerged of whether Sinwar had left the tunnels over the course of the Israel-Hamas War, and the IDF obtained footage of the Hamas chief walking through the tunnels in February of this year.
Several Hamas leaders have been eliminated by Israel, including Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in July, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, who was killed in the Gaza Strip also in July.
This is a developing story.