Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been confirmed dead by the Palestinian group following combat with the Israeli military in Gaza.
In a televised address on Friday, Khalil Hayya, Hamas’ head in Gaza, praised the 62-year-old leader, calling him “steadfast, brave, and intrepid,” and stating that Sinwar “sacrificed his life for our liberation.” Hayya said Sinwar died fighting, holding his weapon until his last breath, and emphasized that his death would only strengthen the movement’s resolve.
Sinwar, considered the architect of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, was reportedly killed in a surprise firefight in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Israeli forces discovered Sinwar with a gun and a sum of money after tracking him with drone footage, which showed him injured before being shot.
Israel had previously accused Sinwar of hiding in tunnels alongside hostages captured during the October 7 attacks. His death marks a significant blow to Hamas, but Hayya vowed that their fight would continue until a Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital.
Sinwar’s death follows the killings of other senior Hamas leaders, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as a key moment, while also pledging to continue the military campaign.