By Sanjeev Kumar Patro
Hamas supreme leader Yahya Sinwar, the chief architect of the deadly Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel that finds the country napping, and which even jolted the country to a big extent, was killed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Wednesday.
As per the IDF release, the Hamas top leader was killed during a military operation in southern Gaza. His death signifies a major blow to the militant group HAMAS (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya means Islamic Resistance Movement). It is the largest and most potent militant group in the Palestinian territories and is committed to armed resistance against Israel and to the creation of a Palestinian state.
SINWAR KILLING: AN INTEL OP?
For the IDF, which is waging the eighth and the most momentous war since Yom Kippur War in 1973, the killing of top Hamas leader Sinwar has been a significant success. The details that are emerging suggest that Sinwar’s death was coincidental, and not the result of Israeli intelligence pinpointing the notoriously elusive Hamas leader’s location.
As per reports, Sinwar was reportedly killed when Israeli soldiers exchanged fire with three armed men during a standard patrol.
In fact, the video (courtesy NBC news, USA) released by IDF shows Sinwar was killed by tank bombing, not by gunshots from the IDF men in operation. Reports suggest during a patrol operation, Israeli forces fired killing two HAMAS men, they saw a third running into a building. The IDF then set out a drone to ascertain whether the third man is alive or not. The Israeli forces then had no idea that the third man is none other Yahya Sinwar.
As the drone sent out pictures of third alive in the building, IDF tank fired at the building killing the third man. Post operation, during the search operation they find out Yahya Sinwar. In order to confirm, the IDF cut his index finger for DNA test. The DNA report then matched with the profile from the time of Sinwar’s prisoner days, which confirmed that the person killed in tank bombing was none other than top leader of Hamas Yahya Sinwar.
Sinwar was imprisoned in Israel for over two decades. He was released in a 2011 prisoner exchange.
In a statement to CNN, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson confirmed that a fierce gunfight had erupted, concluding with an Israeli tank shell striking the building where Sinwar was believed to be hiding.
SINWAR HAD GUNSHOT?
Speaking to The New York Times, Dr Chen Kugel, who assisted in the autopsy on Sinwar body, had mentioned the following chilling details.
- He had sustained injuries from various sources, Dr Kugel told TNY.
- A missile had damaged his right forearm.
- Debris crushed his leg.
- Chest peppered with sharpnel.
- He claimed that a gunshot wound on the head sealed his fate.
- Sinwar had already sustained severe injuries prior to his death.
- He had attempted to stem the bleeding with a makeshift tourniquet crafted from an electrical cord, Dr Kugel observed.
CHILLING VIDEOS CAST SHADOW OVER CEASEFIRE?
The killing of Israel’s most wanted men in Gaza is considered a major political triumph for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as both the United States and Israel have put significant resources trying to capture or kill the top Hamas leader.
Reports suggest Israeli and U.S. officials believed that Sinwar had been hiding in Gaza’s tunnels since the first weeks of war, surrounded by Israeli hostages.
But IDF didn’t find any signs of the presence of hostages in the area where Sinwar was killed on Wednesday.
Even as IDF and US President Biden believe that the elimination of top Hamas leader will create good condition for a hostage deal, it’s unlikely to except a breakthrough on ceasefire. The HAMAS top leader’s long time deputy Khalil al –Haya ‘s strong statement bares it all. He said, “We mourn the great leader, the martyred brother Yahya Sinwar. But the leader’s death had not swayed us from our stance.”
WILL HAMAS SUCCUMB?
Since the Israeli forces have eliminated two top leaders of Hamas – Yahya Sinwar and Abu Ibrahim – on a single day, they feel Hamas is now leaderless. The elimination plan of Israel has been quite bang on. Earlier, Israeli military is also believed to have killed Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, deputy military commander Marwan Issa, and deputy political chief Saleh al-Arouri.
The heavy casualties seem to have weakened the Hamas organizationally. In that situation, the Hamas may tactically go for ceasefire to regroup. However, any agreement to ceasefire by Hamas will be of tactical in nature. But the Israeli conditions may play spoilsport to the Hamas plan.
WHO IS YAHYA SINWAR?
Sinwar was one of the founders of the militant group’s armed wing. He had been the most senior—and most influential—Hamas official inside Gaza for years. Most of the rest of the Hamas political leadership are living in exile in Doha, Qatar, and elsewhere.
He became the group’s political leader in August after his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Tehran. Hamas and Iranian officials have accused Israel of orchestrating the attack. But Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility.
IRAN NEXT TARGET?
Post the elimination of top Hamas leader, a statement by US President Joe Biden today that he has a “good understanding” of how and when Israel will respond to Iran’s missile attack on Israel sparks the anxiety in Middle East that Israel may launch air strikes on Iran soon.
