 "In Graphics: Who was Yahya Sinwar? And how did he become Israel’s enemy number one?")
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the October 7, 2023, attack that escalated into the ongoing Gaza war, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, Israel said on Thursday. Khalil al-Hayya, a top political leader of Hamas, confirmed Sinwar’s death on Friday in a televised statement.
Sinwar’s killing is a massive achievement for Israel in the year-long conflict, and it is being viewed as a pivotal moment. While Western leaders have suggested that his death could pave the way for ending the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the conflict would continue.
Known for advocating armed struggle as the sole path to achieving a Palestinian state, Sinwar was deeply committed to the fight against Israel, according to Palestinian officials. The October 7 attack led by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 250 hostages, marking Israel’s deadliest day since the Holocaust.
Israel responded with a large-scale military operation, which has killed over 42,400 people and displaced nearly 1.9 million, according to Palestinian health authorities and UN figures.
Sinwar had previously held indirect talks with Israel to negotiate an end to the conflict, aiming to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners, a goal he had pursued since his release in a past prisoner exchange deal. He also played a key role in developing stronger ties between Hamas and Iran, along with other regional allies.
While Sinwar was a nightmarish figure in Israel, described by Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari as “who proved to the whole world that Hamas is worse than ISIS,” he was respected among Palestinians for his standing up to Israel and his decision to remain in impoverished Gaza, in contrast to several other Hamas leaders living abroad in more comfortable conditions.
Let’s take a look at Yahya Sinwar’s life and how he became Israel’s number one enemy:
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