Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, known for orchestrating the group’s deadly cross-border raids in 2023, was killed in combat, according to Khalil Al-Hayya, deputy chief of Hamas in Gaza.
Sinwar’s death is seen as a significant blow to Hamas, following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting its leadership after the group launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
This attack left 1,200 Israelis dead and triggered a hostage crisis as around 250 individuals were taken into Gaza.
Sinwar, notorious for his hardline approach, was a key figure in enforcing Hamas’ rule over collaborators with Israel and had long been one of Israel’s most formidable opponents.
Having spent much of his life in Israeli prisons, Sinwar rose to prominence in 2017 when he was elected as the leader of Hamas in Gaza. In August 2023, following the assassination of former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Sinwar was named the group’s top leader.
Born in Khan Younis, Gaza, Sinwar defied numerous Israeli assassination attempts during the ongoing conflict, making him one of the last surviving senior Hamas leaders until his recent death.
