Benjamin Netanyahu Confirms Death Of October 7 Attack Mastermind Yahya Sinwar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader and one of the masterminds behind the brutal October 7 attacks last year, is dead, according to reports from the Times of Israel.

Netanyahu also directed his aides to inform the families of Israeli hostages about Sinwar's death.

Photo Credit: PTI

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that three terrorists had been neutralised during their operations in Gaza, including Yahya Sinwar.

The IDF had initially posted on X, stating, "During IDF operations in Gaza, 3 terrorists were eliminated. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar." His death was later confirmed.

This news follows weeks after Israel conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, resulting in the death of another high-profile leader, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Additionally, Ismail Haniyeh, another senior Hamas leader, was killed in Iran. Although Tehran and Hamas blamed Israel for the attack, the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

In recent operations, the IDF has eliminated several other high-ranking Hamas figures, including Rawhi Mushtaha, who led the Hamas government in Gaza, and Sameh al-Siraj, who managed the security portfolio within Hamas's political bureau.

Earlier this week, the IDF reported that approximately 20 Hamas operatives were killed in airstrikes and close-quarters combat in Jabaliya. According to the military, they also located and destroyed a weapons depot amid the fighting.

"The operation will continue as long as necessary, while systematically striking and thoroughly destroying the terror infrastructure in the area," the military stated.

On Monday, the IDF urged Palestinians in northern Gaza's Beit Hanoun, Jabaliya, and Beit Lahiya to evacuate to the humanitarian zone in the southern part of the Strip, designated by Israel.

On Tuesday, the IDF and Shin Bet security agency confirmed that three Hamas terrorists who were involved in the October 7 attacks were killed in airstrikes in recent days.