Israeli security cabinet told that Hamas leader Sinwar likely dead, two officials say

Members of Israel's security cabinet have been informed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a mastermind of the devastating Oct. 7, 2023 attack that triggered the Gaza war, is very likely dead, two officials with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.

Two of Israel's broadcasters, KAN and N12 News also cited Israeli officials as saying Sinwar was dead. The Israeli military said Sinwar may have been hit in an operation in the Gaza Strip that it said had targeted three militants.

Israel has killed several commanders of Hamas in Gaza as well as senior figures of Hezbollah in Lebanon, including its veteran leader Hassan Nasrallah, dealing heavy blows to its arch-foes.

Hamas has not commented on the fate of Sinwar, who was recently elevated to paramount leader of the Palestinian militant group after running its operations in Gaza.

If his death is confirmed it will dial up hostilities in the Middle East where fears of a wider conflict have grown as Israel plans its response to the Oct. 1 missile attack carried out by Iran after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian-allied militants.

It would also represent a major boost to the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sinwar, the chief architect of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, mainly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, has been on Israel's wanted list ever since.

The attacks marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Sinwar, who made his name by punishing Palestinian collaborators with Israel, has so far eluded detection, possibly hiding in the warren of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza over the past two decades.

Previously leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, he was named as its overall leader following the assassination of former political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.