Yahya al-Sinwar (C), the Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, addresses supporters during a rally marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day, a commemoration in support of the Palestinian people celebrated annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City, on April 14, 2023. AFP
A joint statement from the Israeli Army and Israel Police said that dental images have been submitted to a forensic lab, while DNA testing is also underway. The samples, taken from the alleged body, will be compared to records Israel has on file from Sinwar’s 22 years in an Israeli prison.
The statement added that Israeli police, the Army, and the Shin Bet intelligence agency are “actively working to establish a definitive identification” and further information will be shared when available.
US President Joe Biden was briefed aboard Air Force One en route to Germany after Israel announced it was investigating whether Sinwar had been killed, a US official told AFP on Thursday. Biden, traveling to Berlin for talks with European leaders on Ukraine and the Middle East, was kept informed of developments while on the plane, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Several Israeli media outlets confirmed the killing of Yahya Sinwar in a military operation in Gaza earlier Thursday. Israeli Army Radio reported that Sinwar had been killed during an operation in Tel Al Sultan in southern Gaza.
Hamas has not issued an official response to the reports.
According to Reuters, Hamas-linked website Al-Majd urged Palestinians to await official information from the group, warning that Israeli media outlets aimed to demoralize them.
Members of Israel's security cabinet have reportedly been informed that Sinwar is “very likely dead,” The Times of Israel said, citing two officials with knowledge of the matter. Israeli broadcasters Kan and Channel 12 also cited officials who said Sinwar was dead.
The Associated Press reported additional details, saying Israel’s military confirmed three Palestinians were killed during operations in Gaza. While their identities have not yet been confirmed, the military said it was “checking the possibility” that one of them was Sinwar.
There were no signs that Israeli captives were present in the building where the militants were killed, the military added.
Sinwar was appointed Hamas’ top leader following the assassination of Ismael Haniyeh in July, which Israel is suspected of carrying out in a strike in Tehran, Iran.
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