The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has killed a top leader of the Hamas group, Yahya Sinwar, in its operation in the south of Gaza.
In a statement on Thursday, the IDF said it has been in pursuit of Sinwarfor for over a year, having planned and executed the 7 October attack and was “responsible for the murder and abduction of many Israelis”.
“Yahya Sinwar was eliminated after hiding for the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip,” it says.
The Israeli military says its operations in southern Gaza follow an intelligence “that indicated the suspected locations of senior members of Hamas”.
IDF soldiers from the 828th Brigade operating in the area “identified and eliminated three terrorists” it said, adding that an identification process confirmed one of those killed was Sinwar.
Meanwhile, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has commended the country’s forces for killing the Hamas leader and urged them to endeavour to release the hostages still held in Gaza.
In a post on X, Herzog said Sinwar was “responsible for heinous acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians, citizens of other countries, and the murder of thousands of innocent people”.
“His evil endeavours were dedicated to terror, bloodshed, and destabilizing the Middle East.
“Now, more than ever, we must act in every way possible to bring back the 101 hostages who are still being held in horrific conditions by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.”