Sinwar, mastermind of Oct. 7 attacks, was long sought by Israeli forces

The long-sought mastermind of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks has been killed in an Israeli military’s operations in the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Thursday.

The long-sought mastermind of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks has been killed in an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel said Thursday.

“I stand before you today to inform you that Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a television statement.

The Israel Defense Forces said Sinwar was killed Wednesday by soldiers in southern Gaza. Hamas has yet to confirm his death.

Yahya Sinwar was declared Hamas’ new political head in August following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar's death will come as a significant blow to the militant group and its supporters — and as a major coup for Israel and its war in the Gaza Strip.

Before Sinwar’s death was announced, a senior Israeli official told NBC News that troops had identified him as being among three militants killed during a “heavy gun battle” in Gaza. But, they said, the operation had not been aimed specifically at killing Sinwar.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-israel-investigating-dead-rcna175892

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