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October 19, 2024 – 03:56
(Keystone-ATS) Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar, whose death in the Gaza Strip was announced Thursday by Israel, was killed by a bullet to the head, the New York Times said on Friday. The newspaper interviewed the chief forensic pathologist for the autopsy in Israel.
Several gray areas remain, according to the American daily, in particular on the precise moment when the fatal shot was fired, on the weapon which was used and on who fired.
The leader of the Palestinian armed Islamist group was first wounded in the right forearm during an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers, the director of the Israeli Institute of Forensic Medicine, which oversaw the autopsy.
Wounded, Mr. Sinouar was then killed by a gunshot to the head, according to the doctor. Touched, the Hamas leader wrapped an electric cable around his arm, “but that wouldn’t have been enough anyway.” […] It wasn’t strong enough and his forearm was shattered,” the medical examiner said.
Location already inspected
Israel announced Thursday the death of Yahya Sinouar, killed Wednesday in an operation by its soldiers in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
We know, according to Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari, that his forces were operating “in recent weeks” in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, following information indicating the probable presence of high-ranking Hamas officials.
“Yahya Sinouar was hiding in places that we had already inspected,” but “we did not know he was there,” according to Rear Admiral Hagari. Soldiers spotted “three terrorists moving from house to house” on Wednesday and there were exchanges of fire.
“Sinouar rushed alone into a building” and was “injured in one hand by the shots” according to Mr. Hagari. The soldier specified that the Hamas leader had a pistol and 40,000 shekels (around 10,000 US dollars) on him.
