Hamas leader Yahya Simwar killed by Israel military
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas has been confirmed dead on Oct. 17, 2024.
Fighting will continue between Palestine and Israel, even after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar’s death occurred while Hamas forces fought the Israeli military on Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the city of Rafah, Palestine.
Sinwar, then leader of the paramilitary group Hamas and orchestrator of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel in 2023, has caused both outrage and celebration following his death. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that the death of Sinwar is a milestone for the war effort for the Israeli people, but that “The war, my dear ones, is not yet over.” A primary goal for Israel still is seeing to the release of around 100 Israeli hostages held by Hamas, which does not appear to be happening any time soon.
Hamas has said that the hostages would only be released following Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, along with the release of Hamas hostages held by Israel. After the announcement was made, Hamas followed up with how the death of Sinwar “...will only increase the strength and resolve of Hamas and our resistance.”
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas has suffered the deaths of sixteen top leadership officials, with Sinwar being the newest casualty. Sinwar was killed in battle, and Hamas has now claimed him to be a hero who died on the battlefield.
There is also the implication that Sinwar’s death has little contribution to the destabilization of Hamas leadership. Sadeq Abu Amer, the leader of a think-tank labeled as the Palestinian Dialogue Group, has suggested that collective leadership will continue within Hamas as it already has been doing so. Another favorable option would be to elect regional leaders within the group.
Sinwar’s death itself was a somewhat chance encounter, however, when on Wednesday, Oct. 16., a group of Israel's 828th Bislamach Brigade soldiers met with and defeated three fighters in the Tal al-Sultan refugee camp, an area in the city of Rafah. After arriving back at the scene the following day, on Thursday, Oct. 17, they found and later confirmed the body of Sinwar after DNA testing. Sinwar was not discovered by luck, as the Israel Defense Forces found Sinwar’s previous movements from his DNA after finding six corpses of hostages six weeks beforehand.
Daniel Hagari, who serves as the Israel Defense Forces’s spokesperson, has reported on the previous statement while also mentioning that they are looking out for Sinwar's brother, Muhammed Sinwar, as he is believed to have taken over militaristic control of Hamas.
Though numerous ceasefires have been struck down, continuous work occurs for a chance for peace to occur. President Joe Biden, while still heavily supporting Israel in the war effort, has sent Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Israel in hopes for a ceasefire to be achieved finally. Biden said, “We’re going to work out what the ‘day after’ is now – how do we secure Gaza and move on.”