The Israeli military says it is looking into whether top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed in a military operation in the Gaza Strip.
The military said in a statement on Thursday that three militants were killed during operations in the enclave, without elaborating.
It said the identities of the three were so far not confirmed but it was “checking the possibility” that one of the three was Sinwar.
During IDF operations in Gaza, 3 terrorists were eliminated. 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.In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there…— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 17, 2024
It said there were no signs that hostages had been present in the building where the three militants were killed.
Sinwar was one of the chief architects of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas.
If confirmed, the death of Sinwar would represent a major boost to the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a string of high-profile assassinations of prominent leaders of its enemies in recent months.
Previously leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Sinwar was named as its overall leader following the assassination of former political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in August.
Israel also killed Hasan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah movement, in Beirut last month as well as much of the top leadership of the group’s military wing.
Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 killing about 1200 people and taking more than 250 hostages into the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s campaign in response has killed more than 42,000 people, turned much of Gaza into rubble and displaced most of its population.
AP and Reuters
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