Yahya Sinwar
Israel has confirmed the killing of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. Sinwar was the main conspirator of the attack on Israel in October last year. After this attack, a fierce war started between Israel and Hamas. Yahya Sinwar was at the top of Israel’s most wanted list. Hamas has suffered a major blow with the killing of Yahya Sinwar. However, the killing of Yahya Sinwar has not yet been confirmed by Hamas. The Israeli military confirmed Sinwar’s death after DNA and other tests.
Was born in a refugee camp
Sinwar was born in 1962 in a refugee camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza City. His full name is Yahya Ibrahim Sinwar. He was among the early members of Hamas, formed in 1987. In 1989, at the age of just 18, Sinwar was accused of murdering two Israeli soldiers. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released in a prisoner exchange in 2011. Sinwar was notorious for his cruelty. He murdered 12 suspected associates after which he came to be known as the Butcher of Khan Yunis.
Mastermind of October 7, 2023 attack
Sinwar was one of the main masterminds of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel had vowed to eliminate him from the beginning of its counter-operation in Gaza. Throughout the war, Sinwar never appeared in public. Sinwar was for years the top leader of Hamas inside the Gaza Strip, forming its military wing and being closely linked to it.
Took command of Hamas after the murder of Ismail Haniya
Sinwar was chosen as the group’s top leader after Ismail Haniya was killed in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran in July. Israel also claimed to have killed Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ military wing, in the airstrike, but Hamas said he survived. The Israeli army has continued air and ground attacks on the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza for more than a week.
Sinwar is another name for fear!
According to a report in Jerusalem Post, even those close to Yahya Sinwar were afraid of him. He was not used to hearing ‘no’. According to the claims made in the report, if any person ignored Sinwar’s instructions or did not do the work assigned by him, he would get that person buried alive.
Used to give orders to the fighters sitting in the tunnels
Sinwar was also accused of torturing and killing Hamas commander Mahmoud Ishtiwi in 2015. Most of Sinwar’s time was spent in the tunnels of Hamas. Sitting in these tunnels, he used to give commands to Hamas fighters.