On October 14, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson confirmed in a statement that its troops had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a “pledge of responsibility” for a border attack on October 7. Sinwar had been involved in the attack which resulted in the deaths of two IDF soldiers.
Sinwar was killed as part of an operation conducted by IDF troops in the southern Gaza Strip late on October 13. According to the IDF statement, Sinwar posed an immediate threat to Israeli soldiers and civilians and the killing of him helped to thwart further attacks. The operation was conducted in response to the terror attack that occurred just a week earlier, in which Hamas terrorists opened fire on IDF soldiers after infiltrating Israeli territory.
The operation was part of a larger effort by the IDF to continue to take serious action against Hamas for its recent terror attacks. Over the past week, the IDF has destroyed several terror infrastructure sites belonging to Hamas, including a tunnel system used to smuggle weapons and explosives.
Sinwar had been a leader of Hamas for five years and was the operational head of the organization’s Gaza branch. The organization’s Gaza members have been responsible for planning and executing recent attacks against Israelis, including the October 7 incident.
The IDF’s actions demonstrate its commitment to protecting Israeli citizens and its responses to Hamas’s attacks are an integral part of that mission. IDF forces will continue to take action against terror cells regardless of the risks involved, to ensure the safety of all its citizens.