The Israeli army confirms the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza

The Israeli military has confirmed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, was killed during an Israeli military operation.

“Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar,” the Israeli army wrote in a social media post.

Israel’s Foreign Minister said Sinwar’s identity was confirmed after authorities conducted a DNA test on his body. He was one of two others also killed in the Israeli military operation.

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Sinwar’s death marks a major development in Israel’s years-long war against Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza. However, it could also complicate Israeli efforts to free dozens of Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity.

The IDF said in a statement that “there were no signs of the presence of hostages” in the area where Sinwar was killed.

This is a developing story and will be updated.