Israel has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. Israeli forces reportedly killed him during an operation in southern Gaza on Wednesday. This incident follows the assassination of former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh just months ago, delivering yet another significant blow to the organization. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet intelligence agency confirmed that three individuals were killed in the operation, including Sinwar. The identities of the deceased were identified, leading to the confirmation of Sinwar’s death. However, Hamas has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed Sinwar’s death shortly before the military announcement. In a statement, he held Sinwar accountable for the atrocities committed in Israel on October 7 of the previous year. Katz described the assassination as a significant military and moral success for the Israeli armed forces. Yahya Sinwar rose to leadership following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran last July. Sinwar had a long history of imprisonment by Israel, being released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal. Mohammad Elmasri, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar, told Al Jazeera that if the news of Sinwar’s assassination is confirmed, Hamas will need to undergo a process of restructuring its leadership. He emphasized that the organization’s leadership framework has already been significantly affected. The implications of Sinwar’s death extend beyond Hamas, as it raises questions about the future of the organization’s strategy and its ability to respond to ongoing challenges. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely to see how Hamas will navigate this critical juncture in its history.
Source: Prothom Alo
