Israel claims killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during clashes in Rafah

Gaza (Quds News Network)- The Israeli occupation government and military both claimed on Thursday that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Rafah during clashes with Israeli forces. Hamas has not yet commented on Israel’s claims.

The operation reportedly took place in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah in southern Gaza on Wednesday.

Israeli officials said that the incident on Wednesday was “coincidental” and not based on any intelligence.

AFP reported that the Israeli army was conducting a DNA test on the body of a slain Palestinian to confirm whether it was Sinwar’s.

The details of the killing of Sinwar refute Israel’s claims that Sinwar had spent the year-long war on Gaza hiding in Hamas’s elaborate tunnel system underground and that Sinwar was hiding among Israeli captives.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the killing of Sinwar was the “beginning of the end” of the year-long war in Gaza.

“While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end.”

Sinwar killed in battlefield

The Israel military claimed that a unit from its 828th Bislamach Brigade was patrolling Tal al-Sultan on Wednesday.

Three Palestinian fighters were identified and engaged by the Israeli forces – and all were “eliminated.”

The soldiers did not return to the scene until Thursday morning.

It was then, as the dead were inspected, that one of the bodies was found to bear a striking resemblance to the leader of Hamas.

Part of his finger was removed and sent to Israel for testing, BBC said.

His body was finally extracted and brought to Israel later that day as the area was made safe.

Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said his forces “didn’t know he was there but we continued to operate”.

He said his troops had identified the three men running from house to house, and engaged them before they were “eliminated.”

The man, since identified as Sinwar, “ran alone into one of the buildings” and was killed after being located with a drone.

The Israeli military alleged that Sinwar was struck by an Israeli tank on Wednesday. Only after sending in soldiers on foot did the Israeli military identify the man as Hamas’ leader.

None of the captives Sinwar, as it was claimed to be using as a human shield, were present.

Drone footage released by the Israeli military late on Thursday was said to show Sinwar’s final moments before he was killed.

The video appears to be shot from a drone flying through the open window of a mostly destroyed building.

It approaches a man, with his head covered, sitting in an armchair on the first floor of a house that is littered with debris.

The man, who seems to be injured, then throws what appears to be a stick at the drone and the video ends.

Hagari claimed Sinwar had been shot in his hand.

Regarding the house which Siwar was inside, CNN was able to make the geolocation by comparing recent satellite imagery to videos and photos from the vicinity that were shared on social media by the Israeli forces.

The home was roughly 1,000 feet (300 meters) from what appears to be an “IDF forward operating base or vehicle depot.” Multiple satellite images from Planet Labs taken this month show a number of military vehicles, and even a bulldozer, parked among newly constructed earthen berms in the same spots over multiple days and weeks.

But the area was largely untouched by the war until August 28, when a group of homes was destroyed just north of where Sinwar was killed, according to CNN’s review of the Planet Labs satellite imagery.

By September 2, the home where Sinwar was found was surrounded by destruction. Bulldozing immediately followed. Several of the roadways around the home on September 10 are seen destroyed, and homes are seen completely leveled, in the satellite imagery.

Hagari also claimed that Sinwar was trying to escape to the north when he was martyred on Wednesday.

“I believe he was running, moved from an underground compound to houses trying to escape north to a more secure compound,” Hagari said.

Who was Yahya Sinwar?

Born on October 7, 1962, in Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza, Sinwar’s early life was marked by hardship. His family had been displaced from their hometown of Majdal (which the zionists renamed to Ashkelon) by Israeli forces in 1948. Growing up amidst the harsh realities of refugee camp life, Sinwar was deeply affected by the Israeli occupation’s repeated aggressions.

Sinwar’s academic journey at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he earned a degree in Arabic studies, was notable for his active involvement in student politics. As a leader in the Islamic Bloc, the student arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine, Sinwar honed his leadership skills, preparing him for future roles in Hamas. His strategic mindset became apparent during his tenure at the university, setting the stage for his later contributions to the movement.

In 1986, Sinwar, along with Khaled Hindi and Rawhi Mshata, established the “Mujahideen” security apparatus under the guidance of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. This organization, which would later evolve into the “Majd” security and advocacy body, focused on identifying and combating Israeli collaborators. Sinwar’s leadership in this domain was pivotal, laying the groundwork for Hamas’s internal security infrastructure.

Sinwar’s initial arrest in 1982 marked the beginning of a prolonged period of imprisonment. He was first sentenced to six months for participating in “security activities against Israel”, but this was just the beginning. In January 1988, he faced life sentences on multiple counts, including the establishment of a security apparatus and involvement in the movement’s military wing. His 23 years in Israeli prisons were characterized by resilience, strategic planning, and a deep understanding of Israeli society and security measures.

During his incarceration, Sinwar became a formidable intellectual force. He mastered Hebrew, studied Israeli security practices, and authored several works, including translations of key Israeli texts and his own analyses of Hamas and Israeli security. His writings, such as “Hamas: Experience and Mistakes” and “Majd,” reflect a keen insight into both the movement’s strategies and its adversaries’ tactics.

Upon his release in the 2011 prisoner exchange deal, Sinwar quickly reasserted himself within Hamas. He was elected to the movement’s political bureau in 2012 and took charge of the military wing, al-Qassam Brigades. His strategic acumen was evident as he managed the coordination between the political and military branches of Hamas during the war on Gaza in 2014. Sinwar’s ability to navigate and integrate the movement’s diverse factions was instrumental in Hamas’s response to Israeli aggression.

Sinwar’s leadership style is marked by his pragmatic approach and strategic foresight. Despite being labeled a hardliner and a key figure in Hamas’s resistance efforts, he has also shown a capacity for diplomacy. His attempts to bridge gaps between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, as well as his efforts to improve relations with Egypt, highlight his nuanced approach to leadership.

In recent years, Sinwar’s role in orchestrating significant operations, including the October 7, 2023, “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, has solidified his reputation as a strategic mastermind. This operation, which inflicted severe casualties and shook Israel’s intelligence and security apparatus, demonstrated Sinwar’s capability to execute complex and impactful military strategies. The Israeli government had since identified him as a top target in its military campaigns, underscoring the threat he poses to their security objectives.
Sinwar’s influence extends beyond the battlefield.

His ability to inspire and lead within Hamas, combined with his strategic insights and diplomatic engagements, makes him a central figure in the ongoing resistance against Israel. His leadership has been characterized by a blend of intellectual rigor, strategic depth, and an unwavering commitment to the resistance, positioning him as a formidable opponent and a key player in the region’s complex political landscape.

Sinwar was appointed as the new head of Hamas’s political bureau in August as he succeeded the late Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated by Israel in Tehran in July.

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