The Israeli military is currently investigating whether Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who is considered the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks, is dead. The Hamas leader was reportedly killed in a rocket strike that hit a school in Gaza City, where displaced Palestinians were residing. Several media outlets reported that Sinwar might have been killed in the attack.
Officials from Israel's intelligence agency, Shin Bet, and the Israel Defense Forces have stated that there is currently no new evidence to confirm Sinwar's death. However, they are working to investigate the situation.
According to the Times of Israel, officials are investigating the possibility that Sinwar may be dead, based on military intelligence reported by Israeli journalist Ben Caspit.
"The Walla news site notes that the Shin Bet has rejected the report and believes that Sinwar is alive. The intelligence being investigated holds that Sinwar was killed during IDF operations in Gaza", the report added.
Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reacted to the speculations around Sinwar’s death and said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that sources with direct knowledge of the matter have informed him that officials in Jerusalem do not currently possess information to confirm Sinwar’s death.
Yahya Sinwar, a prominent figure in the Palestinian militant group Hamas, emerged as the group's chief in August 2023 following the assassination of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, in Iran.
Born in 1962, Sinwar has been a key player in Hamas since its inception in 1987. He previously led the organization's security arm, focusing on eliminating Israeli espionage within its ranks.
Sinwar made headlines in the late 1980s after his arrest by Israeli authorities for his involvement in the killings of suspected collaborators, which earned him the grim moniker "The Butcher of Khan Younis."
He was sentenced to four life terms for his crimes, including the murders of two Israeli personnel. During his time in prison, Sinwar advocated for better conditions and took the opportunity to study Hebrew and Israeli society. He survived brain cancer with the help of Israeli doctors in 2008.
His release in 2011 came as part of a prisoner exchange deal orchestrated by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas.