The Israeli army announced this Thursday that it is “verifying” whether Yahya Sinouar, the leader of Hamas, was eliminated during a military operation in the Gaza Strip.
According to an army statement, “three terrorists were eliminated” during recent operations, and Israeli forces are “verifying the possibility that one of the terrorists is Yahya Sinouar.”
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At this stage, the identities of the eliminated fighters cannot be confirmed, the army said. However, DNA analyzes are underway on a body to determine if it is the political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
An Israeli security source, on condition of anonymity, told AFP that these DNA tests are carried out to formally establish the identity of the killed fighter.
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Yahya Sinouar, a key figure in Hamas, played a central role in leading the movement from the Gaza Strip. He would also have been behind the attack on October 7, 2023. His death, if confirmed, would constitute a major blow to the Islamist organization.
