October 17th 2024.
Israeli forces in Gaza have announced the death of Hamas' top leader, Yahya Sinwar. He was the mastermind behind last year's attack on Israel, which ignited a war. The military revealed that Sinwar was killed in a battle, after troops stumbled upon his body in the rubble of a destroyed building.
Sinwar had been at the top of Israel's most wanted list since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict over a year ago. His death is a major blow to the militant group, but there has been no official confirmation from Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel has "settled its account" with Sinwar, who he referred to as "the person who carried out the worst massacre in the history of our people since the Holocaust." This significant moment in the war also brings hope for the release of hostages being held in Gaza.
However, Netanyahu also stated that the war is not yet over. The military confirmed Sinwar's death through DNA and other tests, after three militants were killed during operations in Gaza on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz hailed Sinwar's killing as a "military and moral achievement" for the Israeli army. He believes it will create the opportunity for the immediate release of hostages.
Sinwar had been Hamas' top leader in the Gaza Strip for years, closely tied to its military wing while significantly strengthening its capabilities. An Israeli security official revealed that Sinwar was most likely killed in a battle, rather than a planned targeted airstrike.
Photos of a man resembling Sinwar with a head wound and dressed in a military-style vest have been circulating online. The security official confirmed that these photos were taken by Israeli security officials at the scene. However, they spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
According to reports, Sinwar was killed by chance in a battle on Wednesday. Israeli troops tracked a group of militants to a building and attacked them with tank fire, causing the building to collapse. It was during the process of unearthing the dead militants that one was identified as Sinwar.
Sinwar had been imprisoned by Israel for decades and received treatment for brain cancer during his time in custody. US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the investigation into Sinwar's death, and US officials have been in close contact with Israeli officials.
Sinwar was chosen as Hamas' top leader following the assassination of Ismael Haniyeh in July, which was believed to be an Israeli strike in Tehran. This news comes as Israeli forces continue their air and ground assault in the northern Gaza Strip.
In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli strike hit a school in Gaza sheltering displaced Palestinians, killing at least 28 people. Israel claims to have targeted a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command center within the school and provided a list of names of alleged militants present during the strike.
The Israeli military insists that it carries out precise strikes on militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. However, their strikes often result in the deaths of innocent women and children. This incident has caused further outrage and condemnation from the international community.
In separate news, a building in central Beirut that housed offices of Al Jazeera and embassies, including Norway's, was evacuated after a bomb threat. Israel has also ordered the evacuation of several buildings and entire cities, as it continues to target Hezbollah militant group.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Northern Gaza has been the primary target of Israel's ground invasion, resulting in the heaviest destruction. The majority of the population have fled, but about 400,000 people remain, facing dire conditions.
Earlier this month, Israel ordered the full-scale evacuation of the north and blocked food aid from entering the area for two weeks. This led to fears that Israel was adopting a surrender-or-starve strategy, which has been suggested by former Israeli generals.
However, after pressure from the United States, Israel allowed two shipments of aid to enter the north. Since the beginning of the conflict, Israeli forces have repeatedly launched operations in Jabaliya, a densely populated urban refugee camp.
The military claims that militants often regroup in this area after major operations. For the latest breaking news, celebrity gossip, and sports updates, join our WhatsApp channel for a private and algorithm-free experience.
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