Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Dead: Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar has been killed by Israel. Israeli media Channel 12 quoted senior army officials as saying that Sinwar has died. Three Hamas members were killed in an Israeli attack in central Gaza on Wednesday. One of them is reported to be Yahya Sinwar. The Israeli army also said in its statement that they had received information about the presence of 3 Hamas fighters in a building. After this, a strike was carried out on it in a routine operation.
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When the bodies of the deceased were examined, one of them was that of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar. DNA test is being done to investigate his death. Photos of Sinwar’s dead body have also gone viral on social media. Earlier also Israel had made several attempts to kill Sinwar. However, it failed. There have been claims about his death earlier also. On 23 September also, Sinwar’s death was claimed. Now his demise was confirmed following DNA testing on the recovered bodies.
Know about Yahya Sinwar: Born in a refugee camp, spent 22 years in prison
Sinwar’s full name is Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar. He was born in the refugee camp of Khan Younis in the southern area of the Gaza Strip. When Israel came into existence in 1948, thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their ancestral homes. Yahya Sinwar’s family was also among them. Sinwar’s parents then became refugees in Gaza. In 1989, at the age of 19, Sinwar was accused of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing 2 Israeli soldiers.
Close to Iran, declared terrorist by America
However, Sinwar was also released in 2011 during the exchange of more than 1000 prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. During this time, Sinwar had spent 22 years in jail. After being released from jail, he joined Hamas. He is also called ‘Butcher of Khan Younis’. America declared Yahya Sinwar a terrorist in 2015. Sinwar is considered close to Iran. There are many reports claiming that Iran gives funding and protection to Sinwar.
Yahya Sinwar’s death was claimed earlier as well
A few days ago, Israel’s military intelligence had claimed that Sinwar had died. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) also said that they had attacked a school in Gaza on 21 September. Hamas’ command center was here. 22 people were killed in this attack. In such a situation, there was a suspicion that Sinwar also died in this airstrike. However, later evidence of Sinwar being alive was found. The IDF itself had confirmed this.
Yahya Sinwar has been seen only once since Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel on October 7 last year. According to the IDF, Sinwar was passing through a tunnel with several Israeli hostages during this time.
Former Hamas chief Haniyeh was killed 78 days ago
Former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran on 31 July. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed his death. The IRGC said that Haniyeh’s hideout in Tehran was attacked with a missile at 2 am (4 am Indian time). Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed in this.
Haniyeh had reached Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pazshkian. Iran had accused Israel of murdering Haniyeh.
Sinwar was the only one left in the top leadership of Hamas
There were three important characters in the attack on Israel on 7 October last year. These included political chief Ismail Haniyeh, military chief Mohammad Daif, and Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. After Haniyeh’s death in Iran on 31 July, Sinwar became the new chief of the organization.
Hamas’ military chief Mohammad Daif was killed in an airstrike on July 13, which was confirmed on August 1. In such a situation, Sinwar was the only one left in Hamas’ top leadership. Therefore, Israel’s entire focus at this time was on finding Sinwar and killing him.
Sinwar is known as the Butcher of Khan Yunis
Sinwar is known for committing ruthless murders. According to a BBC report, Sinwar had a man buried alive by his brother on suspicion of spying for Israel.
The surprising thing is that the burial was done not with a shovel but with a spoon. Due to such cruelty, Sinwar is also called the butcher of Khan Yunis. Even those close to Sinwar are afraid of him. It is said that if you are ignoring Sinwar’s words, then you are putting your life at stake.
Sinwar tortured and killed Hamas commander Mahmoud Ishtiwi in 2015. Ishtiwi was accused of homosexuality and money laundering. Sinwar is an expert in controlling people. However, he is not considered a very good speaker.
In 2014, he was declared ‘dead’, but later it turned out to be a rumour. In 2015, Yahya was declared a terrorist by the US. Sinwar is considered close to Iran.
List of killed Hamas commanders
1. Mohammad Daif: Israel’s military had earlier attacked Hamas bases in Gaza. These attacks were carried out on July 13 in Khan Younis area of Gaza. During this, Hamas’s top commander Mohammad Daif was killed. Israel had earlier tried to kill Daif 7 times.
Mohammad Daif was considered the mastermind of the rocket attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023. On this day, Hamas fired at least 5 thousand rockets towards Israel from Gaza land. After these attacks, the war started in Gaza. However, Hamas has not yet confirmed Daif’s death.
2. Ismail Haniyya: Hamas chief Ismail Haniyya was assassinated on 31 July in Iran’s capital Tehran. He had gone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president. After the ceremony, Haniyya stayed in a highly secured military complex in Tehran. He was targeted while sleeping at night. Iran accused Israel of this murder. However, Israel did not react.
3. Saleh al-Arouri: Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri was killed in an Israeli drone attack on Dahiyah, a southern Beirut area, on 2 January 2024. Arouri was also the founder of Hamas’ army wing, the Qassam Brigades.
How many people have lost their lives in the war so far?
According to the Health Ministry of Hamas-ruled Gaza, 1206 people have died in Israel so far in this war that has been going on for a year. Whereas 42,438 people have lost their lives so far in Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
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