Hamas' new leader, Yahya Sinwar, has been killed, as confirmed by Israel. He was considered the mastermind behind the attack on Israel last year on October 7th. Hamas had executed a massive attack on this date, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis. Following this, Israel declared war against Hamas.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Yahya Sinwar, responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7th, was killed by the IDF. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added that they have settled the scores of October 7th but cautioned that the war is yet to be concluded.
In August of this year, Yahya Sinwar succeeded Ismail Haniyeh as head of Hamas after the latter was killed by Israel on July 31st.
Yahya Sinwar was known by several monikers, from 'Hamas's Osama bin Laden' to 'The Butcher of Khan Yunis.' Israel labeled him 'the Hitler of terror.' Known for his cruelty, Sinwar brutally killed Palestinians suspected of collusion with Israel. His displays of firearms in front of children and the subsequent accusations against Israel for these atrocities have tarnished his reputation. His network of tunnels in Gaza is a testament to his power, concealing numerous secrets.
'The Butcher of Khan Yunis', also known as Laden
Yahya Sinwar, dubbed 'The Butcher of Khan Yunis,' was compared by Israeli media to notorious terrorist Osama bin Laden following the October 7 attacks. Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht described him as the 'face of evil' and even referred to him as a 'walking dead man.' Sinwar was born in 1962 in a Palestinian refugee camp in Khan Yunis, South Gaza, earning him the gruesome nickname. He was unrepentant in his slaughter.
Declared a 'Global Terrorist' in 2015 by the US
In 1988, Israeli agencies arrested Yahya Sinwar, who was then 19. He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to four life terms. However, in 2011, Israel released him as part of a prisoner-exchange deal with Hamas. By 2015, the U.S. State Department had declared him a 'Global Terrorist.' Recently, France froze his assets and added him to its national sanctions list. Despite international restrictions, his influence remains substantial.
Source: aajtak
Sinwar Spent 22 Years in Prisons
Between 1988 and 2011, Yahya Sinwar spent nearly 22 years in Israeli prisons. During the 2011 prisoner-exchange agreement, where Israel freed 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners in exchange for soldier Gilad Shalit, Sinwar was released.
The Scheme Behind the October 7th Massacre in Israel
In the late 80s, Yahya Sinwar joined Hamas and quickly rose through the ranks. Within a few years, he became one of the founders of Hamas' internal intelligence apparatus, known as Majd. He spent over two decades in Israeli prisons for the murder of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians. Sinwar became more ruthless after his release, vowing to eradicate Israel and masterminding the entire scheme of the October 7th massacre.
Sinwar Reportedly Seen Escaping Through Gaza Tunnels
In retaliation for the massacre, the Israeli army initiated an all-out war in Gaza, attacking by land, air, and sea against Hamas. The entire Gaza region trembled under Israeli airstrikes, but Hamas' tunnel network ensured Sinwar's safety. In February, the Israeli Defense Forces released a video claiming Sinwar had escaped with his family through a tunnel. On October 10th, he was seen moving with his brother, wife, and children through the tunnel network near Khan Yunis.
The Notorious Tales of Yahya Sinwar's Cruelty
Notorious stories of Yahya Sinwar's cruelty abound. On one occasion, suspecting a man of espionage for Israel, he ordered the accused's brother to dig a grave using a spoon as punishment. In 2015, Sinwar executed a Hamas commander under accusations of embezzlement and homosexuality. Known to have cheated death multiple times, rumors of his demise often circulate, but he remains alive.
