Killing of Yahya Sinwar

Killing of Yahya Sinwar
Part of the Israel–Hamas war and Rafah offensive
Sinwar, wounded, staring at an Israeli drone, with his face covered in a keffiyeh,[1][2] shortly before his death
Operational scope	Routine patrol of an area by the Israel Defense Forces' 828th Bislamach Brigade, leading to a shootout
Location	Tel al-Sultan, Rafah, Gaza Strip 31°18′19.9″N 34°14′48.4″E / 31.305528°N 34.246778°E / 31.305528; 34.246778[3]
Objective	Killing of suspected militants encountered while patrolling. (Yahya Sinwar as a named target was not the objective—his identity was discovered only later.)
Date	16 October 2024
Casualties	3 Hamas militants killed (including Yahya Sinwar) 1 IDF soldier severely injured
Tel al-Sultan Location within the Gaza Strip

On 16 October 2024, during their operations in the Israel–Hamas war, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. His killing was the result of a routine patrol and a chance encounter in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.^[4] He had been one of Israel's most wanted men after the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel.

In the lead-up to the shootout, members of the 828th Bislamach Brigade reported activity they deemed suspicious and received orders to engage. When their drone spotted three militants leaving a building, the soldiers fired upon them, not knowing that Sinwar was among them. The militants scattered, with Sinwar entering a nearby building alone. A firefight ensued, in which an IDF soldier was severely injured. An IDF tank fired at Sinwar's location and troops advanced into the building, but they pulled back after he threw grenades at them. IDF then sent the drone to survey the interior, detecting the injured Sinwar, his identity still unknown to engaging troops. After entering again the following day, they found Sinwar's body in the wrecked building and suspected it could be his, based on resemblance.^[4] They cut a finger from the body and sent it to Israel for identification purposes; later in the day, the body was dispatched as well.^[4]

Sinwar's body was identified through dental records and DNA testing, and his death was confirmed by Israeli officials soon afterward. An Israeli pathologist reported that the body showed various injuries from different causes, and that Sinwar died from being shot to the head, causing severe traumatic brain injury.^[5] Hamas also acknowledged his death on 18 October.^[6] In the subsequently released footage made by the Israeli drone, seen by many, Sinwar is seen wounded as he throws a stick at the drone. Some in Israel characterized the imagery as showing defeat, while Sinwar's supporters interpreted his conduct as emblematic of defiance. Critics questioned Israel's choice to release the footage in the first place, based on concerns that it contributes to Sinwar's post-mortem heroization.^[7]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killing of Sinwar "settled the score", but warned the war would continue with full force until Israel's hostages were returned.^[8][9] U.S. President Joe Biden stated "This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world", comparing Sinwar's death to the killing of Osama bin Laden and emphasizing that it presents an opportunity for a "day after" in Gaza without Hamas.^[10][11] In Hamas's statement confirming Sinwar's death, Basem Naim said: "Hamas becomes stronger and more popular with each elimination of its leaders. It hurts to lose people, especially unique leaders like Yahya Sinwar, but we are sure we will win in the end."^[12]