Yahya Sinwar

Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in 1962. He joined Hamas in its early years and was imprisoned by Israel in 1989, serving 22 years before his release in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. He was elected head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip in February 2017.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Sinwar was killed on October 16, 2024, in an underground compound in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, southern Gaza. The IDF stated its forces engaged in a firefight during a targeted operation, resulting in his death. Footage released by the military purported to show the aftermath of the engagement.

The operation occurred during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began with Hamas's cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The IDF's subsequent ground offensive and aerial campaign in Gaza, which included the southern city of Rafah, resulted in widespread destruction and a high number of Palestinian civilian casualties reported by Gaza health officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Sinwar's death, calling it a significant operational achievement. Hamas officials acknowledged his killing, with senior official Bassem Naim stating Sinwar died 'fighting face to face with the enemy soldiers.' The news prompted public displays of mourning in parts of Gaza and the West Bank.

Sinwar was described by Israeli and U.S. officials as a principal architect of the October 7, 2023 attack. Within Gaza, he was seen by supporters as a symbol of resistance. His death was viewed by analysts as a major blow to Hamas's leadership structure during the war.

Yahya Sinwar was killed during Gaza Genocide - Israel - Hamas War (from October 2023 to November -0001). The conflict concluded in November -0001. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Ismail Haniyeh, James Miller, Fadel Shana, Ahmad Abu Hussein.

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