UPDATE - Israeli officials claim army killed Hamas leader Sinwar in Gaza

UPDATES WITH FURTHER DETAILS, REVISES DECK, MINOR EDITS

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army on Thursday claimed that it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

In an official statement on X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced “the elimination” of Sinwar in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz also said that Sinwar was killed.

The military admitted that there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area where he was killed.

The Israeli Army Radio reported that Israeli forces were able to kill Sinwar during a clash in the Tel al-Sultan area in Rafah, southern Gaza, He was wearing a military vest, it said.

Israeli media, including the daily Haaretz, reported that Sinwar’s killing “wasn't preceded by intelligence” suggesting his presence in the area.

Confirmation that the body was indeed of Sinwar was made after DNA and other tests, the Israeli broadcasting authority said.

Sinwar became the Hamas political chief last August, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president on July 31.

The selection of Sinwar, 61, as the resistance group’s top leader reflected his history with Hamas. He has served as Hamas’ top official in Gaza for two consecutive terms, the first starting in 2017 and the second in 2021.