Hamas leader, Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar killed by IDF in Gaza, Israel official confirms

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel, was among three terrorists killed in a military operation in Gaza, according to an Israeli official on Thursday. 

The officials spoke to the Washington Post under the condition of anonymity.

The Israeli military has not officially said whether the strike was by air or military personnel. Hamas has not confirmed his death but a photo published on Thursday showed a dead body resembling Sinwar.

Sinwar was declared Hamas’ new political head in August following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

If Sinwar is indeed dead, his killing would be a major coup for Israel and its war in the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement early Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, said at least three militants were killed in a building during an operation in Gaza. They did not expand on how they were killed, but said they were investigating whether one of the three was Sinwar.

"The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar. At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed," the IDF posted on X.

"In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution."

Sinwar, 62, served as Hamas' leader in Gaza since 2017 and has led the terrorist group's Political Bureau after Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran in July.