Mogadishu (AX) — Hamas has revealed the downfall of Yahya Sinwar, captain of its political bureau, during a skirmish with Israeli forces in Gaza. Leading the group since 2017, Sinwar fell amidst bouts in the southern Gaza arena, grappling against Israeli soldiers. Hamas expressed a staunch vow that Sinwar’s demise wouldn’t deter their pursuit of Palestinian emancipation, pressing on with their defiance against Israeli military maneuvers.
Confirming his death, Hamas proclaimed Yahya Sinwar was slain while fiercely engaged in action with Israeli troops. They revered him as a martyr who battled “to his last breath.”
Senior Hamas figure Khalil Hayya declared that Israeli hostages in Gaza will remain captive until the Israeli military ceases hostility and retreats from the territory. Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu professed that the military crusade is far from its end, affirming that Sinwar’s fall isn’t a closure to the conflict in Gaza.
Tensions peaked on October 7, 2023, when Hamas ambushed Israel. The onslaught resulted in 1,139 Israeli fatalities and over 200 abductions. In retaliation, Israel unleashed a sweeping military siege on Gaza, which has been likened by many to genocide. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the toll exceeds 42,500 lives lost, with nearly 100,000 sustaining injuries. In the most recent day-long assault, 62 perished, and 300 sustained injuries as Israeli forces escalated attacks in northern Gaza, severing communication and internet lines.
The clashes have dislocated vast numbers of Palestinians and drew international urgings for truce, albeit Israel shows no signs of halting its operations.
Sinwar’s killing incited censure from Hezbollah and Iran, steadfast allies of Hamas. Hezbollah, Lebanon’s militant faction, expressed sorrowful condolences and reiterated its backing for the Palestinian cause, resolving to maintain military engagements against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon in solidarity with Gaza.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a declaration condemning Israel for Sinwar’s assassination, labeling it a “heart-wrenching loss,” and accusing Israel of perpetrating wrongs against Palestinians. Yet analysts observe Iran’s reaction as somewhat tempered in comparison to responses to the deaths of key Hezbollah leaders, reflecting that whereas Hamas is an ally, it’s not an outright Iranian proxy like Hezbollah.
Efforts to forge a ceasefire were bolstered after Sinwar’s death. U.S. President Joe Biden, alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, renewed pleas for a cessation of hostility. The Biden administration proposed that Sinwar’s passing might open an avenue for peace discussions, with John Kirby, White House spokesperson, describing it as “a distinctive moment” that could diminish Hamas’s military strength.
Nonetheless, Biden and Scholz reaffirmed democratic solidarity with Israel’s right to self-defense, with Germany committing ongoing military support. Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli forces will persist in Gaza operations until their goals are thoroughly attained.
Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, refuted Israeli assertions that Sinwar utilized civilians as human barricades, contending that Sinwar was actively involved in combat and met his end countering attacks in Gaza. “Sinwar framed Netanyahu’s shortcomings to the world,” Barghouti noted, emphasizing the symbolic value of Sinwar’s death for Palestinians.
The Israeli military verified that Sinwar was neutralized during a ground operation in Tal as-Sultan, southern Gaza. Infantry elements from the Bislach Brigade encountered Sinwar alongside two other Hamas militants maneuvering through ravaged structures. Following a quick skirmish, Sinwar withdrew into a heavily bombarded edifice.
Video footage released by the Israeli military captures Sinwar, wounded, in the building, hurling a stick at a surveillance drone. Israeli forces subsequently struck the building with a tank projectile. The following morning, Israeli troops entered the location, finding Sinwar’s remains along with his armament and protective gear. His identity was verified using dental records, fingerprints, and DNA analysis.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
