Slain Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Once Said Killing Him Would Be 'Greatest Gift' From Israel | WATCH

Israel has killed Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, during a military operation in Gaza, nearly a year after he orchestrated the group's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7th October, which led to renewed conflict in the region.

"Mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, who was responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was killed today by IDF soldiers," stated Israel's foreign minister.

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Following his death, an older video of Sinwar has resurfaced, in which he speaks of his willingness to die at the hands of Israeli forces, calling it the "greatest gift" they could give him.

"The greatest gift the enemy and the occupation can give me is to assassinate me so I can go to Allah as a martyr by their hand," he said in the video, recorded in 2021, two years prior to the Hamas attack on Israel.

Sinwar, placing his hand on his chest, stated that he preferred to be killed by "an F-16 or missiles" rather than die of natural causes. "I am 59 years old. At 60, you are closer to dying from natural causes. I prefer to die a martyr than die a meaningless death," he remarked.

Who was Yahya Sinwar?

Yahya Sinwar became the leader of Hamas after the former leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an explosion in Iran. Born in a refugee camp in Gaza, Sinwar led Hamas' security wing from its early days.

On Friday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released footage showing Sinwar's final moments, captured by a drone. The video reportedly shows an injured man, believed to be Sinwar, sitting in a debris-filled room.

Upon noticing the drone, he defiantly picks up a stick and throws it at the drone. Gazans have praised Sinwar's death in battle, with some saying it exemplifies "how heroes die."

Since the attack on October 7, around 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, with hundreds more taken hostage by Hamas.

In retaliation, Israel's military strikes have devastated Gaza, leading to the deaths of more than 42,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, with another 10,000 believed to be buried under the rubble.