Israel investigates possible death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

jerusalem - Israel is investigating whether the army has managed to kill Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during an operation in Gaza. Three terrorists were killed on Thursday, with explicit images suggesting one of them is the 62-year-old Palestinian, who is considered Israel's 'most wanted' and is believed to be the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre.

According to the Israeli military, there were no Israeli hostages near the three targets killed in Gaza, where fierce fighting is still ongoing. Earlier reports in Israel had suggested that Sinwar constantly surrounded himself with hostages.

Israeli troops have taken the bodies after the overnight combat operation, with the military stating that a DNA test will be conducted. 'More details will follow,' the military said in a statement. The initial reports indicate that it was an accidental encounter during an armed confrontation in the city of Rafah.

Sinwar was born in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and was released in 2011 in a prisoner exchange that made history. Over a thousand Palestinians were released in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Since the attacks of October 7 last year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on the radical-Islamist Hamas, which has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007 and has now descended into chaos. The Israelis vowed that anyone affiliated with the terror group would fear for their life. Earlier this summer, leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a bomb at his residence in Tehran, Iran. Other terror leaders from Hezbollah and the Iranian regime have also been eliminated in recent months.