Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar marked the “beginning of the end” of the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory. The Israeli military confirmed that after an extensive search, their forces had successfully “eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the head of the Hamas terrorist organization, during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip” on Wednesday. The military says it could identify him by dental records, fingerprints, and DNA. He had been a key strategist in the group’s attack on Israel last summer.
A week of searching near where soldiers found six hostages killed in August led to a confrontation between the troops and the jihadists, including Sinwar. The military says he was shot dead after he fired at the troops. It has not released a photo of the body, which was said to be lying half-buried in the rubble of a destroyed building. A security official who was not authorized to speak publicly said photos circulating on social media showed a man resembling Sinwar with a gaping head wound.
Before the war, power in Hamas was decentralized, and Sinwar was just one of many leaders. But in the year of pounding by Israel, which has devastated large swaths of Gaza and left 42,000 Palestinians dead, his influence grew.
His death leaves Hamas with a significant leadership vacuum. The military hopes his assassination will lead to a shake-up in the organization’s top ranks and will weaken the group’s Iran-backed links.
Israel has made no secret that it is aiming to destroy Hamas’ command and governing structure. However, a senior U.S. official told CBS News that it was unclear what would occur or how the new leadership would interact with Tehran.
Sinwar had been a central figure in the group’s recent attacks, leading the Hamas force that attacked Israel on Oct. 7. But the father of one of the 101 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, Eyal Eshel, says he doesn’t see reason to celebrate his death. He hopes that the new leadership will come to its senses and negotiate with Israel.
Madhoun said that unlike Sinwar, who lived in the Gaza Strip, the new leadership is likely to be based abroad. Khaled Meshal, who led Hamas for two decades until 2017 and is currently based in Qatar, could take over the role, he added. He and other diaspora leaders might be more willing to make compromises than the militants who rule Gaza. However, it is unlikely that Iran will soften its support for Hamas in exchange for a deal.