Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, was killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. He played a pivotal role in the attack on Israel that occurred on October 7, igniting an ongoing conflict. His ascent to leadership began in August following the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the former leader, who was killed in an explosion in Iran, an act attributed to Israel. Israeli military officials reported Sinwar’s death, which was later confirmed by a prominent Hamas political figure.

Born in 1962 within a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza, Sinwar was among the initial members of Hamas, established in 1987. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization’s security division, focusing on eliminating suspected Israeli informants. In the late 1980s, he was arrested by Israeli forces, during which he confessed to murdering 12 individuals he suspected of collaboration, which earned him the moniker “The Butcher of Khan Younis.” He was subsequently sentenced to four life sentences for various crimes, including the deaths of two Israeli soldiers.

While incarcerated, Sinwar emerged as a leader among fellow prisoners, organizing protests to improve their conditions and engaging in studies of the Hebrew language and Israeli society. Remarkably, he overcame a bout of brain cancer in 2008, treated by Israeli medical professionals. Sinwar was released in 2011 when then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized a prisoner exchange for an Israeli soldier abducted by Hamas during a cross-border operation.

Upon his return to Gaza, Sinwar ascended swiftly within the Hamas hierarchy, notorious for his ruthless tactics. He was suspected of orchestrating the assassination of Mahmoud Ishtewi, a fellow Hamas commander, during a power struggle in 2016. Eventually, he became the head of Hamas in Gaza, effectively managing the territory and collaborating with Ismail Haniyeh to fortify ties with Iran and its regional allies, all while expanding Hamas’ military capabilities.

Sinwar is believed to be one of the chief architects behind the October 7 attack on Israel, which he planned in conjunction with Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’ military wing. This offensive resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities, primarily among civilians, and saw militants take around 250 hostages, thus escalating the violent confrontation with Hamas. Reports indicate that over 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives in the subsequent conflict, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Hamas justified their attack as a reaction to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, aiming to bring global attention back to the Palestinian issue. It should also be noted that Israel claimed to have killed Deif in a separate assault in July.