Yahya Sinwar, the top military and political leader of Hamas in Gaza, has been killed by Israel in a targeted operation. For months, Sinwar evaded capture by hiding in a network of tunnels he had built over the years, which served as both his refuge and his shield.

However, over a year of intense pressure forced him into a critical security mistake, exposing himself and two other commanders to Israel’s forces. DNA tests confirmed his death. 

After the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the political head of Hamas, in Tehran on July 30, Sinwar took full control of the Palestinian militant organization. He had been the de facto ruler of Hamas in Gaza since 2017, succeeding Haniyeh, who moved to Qatar.

At 61, Sinwar grew up in Khan Younis, a southern Gaza city, and became a close associate of Mohammed Deif, another mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attacks, who was killed shortly after Haniyeh. 

Who was Yahya Sinwar?

Sinwar was the architect and ideological leader of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas responsible for the 2023 attacks that reshaped the Middle East conflict. In the 1980s, he focused on arming the group and targeting individuals he deemed collaborators with Israel, creating the feared “Forces of Glory.”  

His brutal methods earned him the nickname “The Butcher of Khan Younis.” Secret military tribunals in Israel later sentenced him for executing twelve Palestinians, many of whom were not collaborators but targeted for political or religious reasons. 

Throughout interrogations, Sinwar remained cold and composed, showing no fear. He openly threatened to continue violence against Israel and its people. He also revealed critical information about Hamas’s operations, including names of operatives, funding channels, and arms shipments.  

Weapons were reportedly funneled from Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Iran through Egypt, facilitated by the Muslim Brotherhood and local Bedouin networks. 

Sinwar’s death represents a significant setback for Hamas, removing a key strategist and long-time leader. While the militant group remains operational, the loss of its chief commander is expected to disrupt planning, coordination, and morale. Israel’s military forces hailed the operation as a major victory in their ongoing efforts to neutralize Hamas’s leadership in Gaza.