Israel Claims that Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas leader, was Assassinated in Gaza

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a key planner of the attack on Israel that started the conflict last year, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, the IDF announced Thursday. It seemed as though troops had unintentionally encountered him during combat, only to learn later that the body under the debris was that of Israel’s most-wanted individual.

Just over a year after Hamas-led militants killed almost 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 250 more in a shocking strike, Israeli leaders hailed his death as a settling of accounts.

Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “This marks the beginning of the day after Hamas.

Although Hamas has shown resilience in the face of previous leaders’ deaths, Sinwar’s passing is a devastating blow to the organisation. The death of Sinwar was not immediately confirmed by Hamas.

In an effective occupation that increases the likelihood of months or possibly years of ongoing combat, Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to battle until all the hostages are free and that it will maintain control of Gaza long enough to prevent Hamas from rearmament.

For many years, Sinwar has led Hamas in the Gaza Strip. After his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, was murdered in what appeared to be an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, in July, he was promoted to the post of top leader of the group.