Truth Behind Israeli Speculations Of Death Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar (image @KinyanBoy)
Israel is investigating the possibilities of death of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. Israeli media and IDF claimed that the Hamas chief might have been killed during its strike on a school in Gaza. However, there is no concrete evidence to support the claim. The Israeli military said Sinwar has gone incommunicado for long and there is possibility that he is dead.
Reports from Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, news outlets such as Haaretz, Maariv and Walla, Times of Israel and the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate suggested that Sinwar may have been killed. At the same time, the Shin Bet agency reportedly believe that he is still alive.
Reportedly, the intel officials suspect that the recent messages from Sinwar were forged. The messages included congratulations to Algeria’s President and the Houthis. It is said that another Hamas official might have written the messages in Sinwar’s name, said Times of Israel, citing Army Radio.
The Times Of Israel also said that some reports quoted sources stating that Sinwar has a history of going off the radar before re-emerging. Security officials, cited by multiple outlets, noted that any assertion of Sinwar’s death was currently speculative and lacked a solid basis.
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Quoting sources, Haaretz reported that Israel bombed tunnels in areas where Sinwar was thought to be hiding, but there was no definitive evidence that he was harmed or killed. He may be deliberately maintaining a low profile. The military’s response to inquiries was succinct: “We have no information confirming or refuting the matter.”
Since the October 7 attack on Israel -which was claimed to have been orchestrated by Sinwar – Israel has targeted key figures within Hamas, including the group’s military wing chief, Muhammad Deif, and Khan Younis Brigade chief, Rafa’a Salameh. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri were assassinated in drone strikes in Iran and Beirut, respectively, earlier this year.
The Times of Israel added that Caspit reasoned that Sinwar might not be dead looking at his history, when he disappeared after past strikes and speculations of his death started making rounds.
Responding to speculations around Sinwar’s death, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said in a post on X, that officials with direct knowledge have told him that Israel doesn’t have the information that could confirm the Hamas leader is dead.
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Reports have also explored the intricate and secretive methods of communication that Sinwar allegedly employs from his hideouts, involving intermediaries and handwritten notes.
Sinwar holds the reputation of going off the face of the earth, only to come back when his enemies believe him to be dead. He has been the sharp-witted and adroit key member of the resistance movement of Gaza, Hamas, since the beginning of its formation.
For Israel, Sinwar, who spend more than 23 years in Israeli prison, appears to be “devil reincarnated”. Reports said that Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar remained high-value targets for Israeli forces, yet attempts to locate them have proven unsuccessful. Israel marked Sinwar as “dead man walking”, after the October 7th attack, which it believe to be the mastermind of Sinwar.
