Israel: Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killed in Rafah

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Facts

• The Israeli military said on Thursday that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in Rafah on Wednesday. Israeli forces reportedly saw a group of gunmen enter a building, calling in a strike. After assessing the aftermath, a body resembling Sinwar was found.^[1][2]
• A DNA sample was taken to confirm that the body was Sinwar. Media reports in the past indicated that Sinwar was among Israeli hostages, but the Israeli army noted that no hostages were in the area. Hamas has not yet commented on the news.^[3][4]
• The families of those still held captive in Gaza welcomed the news but urged the government to leverage this development to reach 'an immediate deal to secure hostages’ return.'^[4]
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing Sinwar's alleged killing, said that the war is not over and that in Gaza, Lebanon, and the region, 'light is prevailing over darkness.' He called on Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages.^[4]
• Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Thursday that Israel has stopped processing food import requests into Gaza since Oct. 11. According to official Israeli data, imports into the Strip have reached their lowest level since the start of the war. Israel denied that it was blocking supplies into Gaza.^[5]
• Politico reported on Wednesday that Lise Grande — the top US official working on the humanitarian situation in Gaza — told aid groups in August that the US would not pause weapon shipments to Israel for allegedly blocking supplies into the Strip because Israel is too close of an ally.^[6]

Sources: ^[1]Timesofisrael (a), ^[2]AL, ^[3]Timesofisrael (b), ^[4]Al Jazeera, ^[5]Reuters and ^[6]Politico.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CNN. Sinwar's death will be a good opportunity to restart negotiations and work toward a cease-fire that ends this war. US officials have spent months frustrated with the lack of progress in Doha and Cairo, but now, though things are still uncertain, there is a real chance that peace can come at last.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. The world will be a better place without Yahya Sinwar in it. Though his death may not lead to Hamas' collapse or the end of this war, the primary mastermind behind the group's Oct. 7 massacres is gone. Justice has been served.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Sinwar's life and death demonstrate why his reported killing will not be the end of Palestinian resistance. Born in one of Gaza's dense refugee camps to a family ethnically cleansed from what is now Ashkelon, Sinwar dedicated his life to fighting Israel. Israel's war on Gaza has likely created a thousand Yahya Sinwars.