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Gaza City, October 18, 2024
This conflict between Israel and Hamas has reached another level, as Israel’s military has affirmed that Yahya Sinwar, a main commander of the militant group, was killed during an operation in Gaza. The killing of Sinwar is regarded as a decisive battle in the war that has killed thousands on both sides in the last year. The event was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described it as a victory over the man who orchestrated attacks that started in the year 2023 and led to the current conflict.
Dual national Mohammed Sinwar, described as one of the most strategic planners on Hamas’ military front, is the most sought-after person in Israel after the October 7, 2023, attack spearheaded by Hamas that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and many others captured. The Israeli military believes that the death of Sinwar will be a blow to Hamas. Still, experts have noted that the militant group is large, has support from Iran, and is capable of surviving previous leadership hits.
The Fight That Caused Sinwar’s Demise
Alleged by Israeli military reports, Sinwar died in the fighting in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. When a helicopter attacked a house where the militants had taken refuge, soldiers found him dead amidst the debris. During the operation, the Palestinian commander Sinwar was involved in a fight, and the Israeli military did not know who he was, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. “Troops saw three Hamas militants crossing from one building to another, and when they engaged the militants, an airstrike was launched and the building fell,” he explained. It also emerged that among the bodies, that were taken from the wreckage of the car, Sinwar was identified equally by dental records, fingerprints, and DNA tests.
A video from an Israeli drone that the military has posted on the internet shows a man in a room endeavoring to avoid the drone’s sight by shielding his face with a piece of cloth before being hit by the strike. This video on the internet provides a graphic account of Sinwar’s last moments.
Sinwar’s death was supported even by the paper medical records from Israeli prisons where he was receiving treatment for his brain cancer. He was arrested by Israel in the late 1980s and held in Israeli detention until he was released in 2011 in exchange for a kidnapped Israeli soldier.
Response of Israeli Leadership and the World
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said arresting and killing Sinwar was one of the significant milestones in the operations targeting Hamas leaders. Whoever believes that our war is over is wrong, but today we planted an account with one of the main initiators of terrorism against the State of Israel. Hamas will no longer rule in Gaza. This is the beginning of the day after Hamas, Netanyahu said during his speech in front of the television cameras. He also called upon any Hamas militants still in Gaza to disarm and release the other hostages. He also insisted that anyone who gives up arms shall be free to go and leave Gaza unhindered.
The setting of Sinwar has sparked new teams of the general operations of the Israeli defense forces in Gaza. Although local Israeli authorities have described it as a triumph, the number of fatalities in Gaza keeps increasing. Over 7000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, Gaza’s health ministry reported, while more than 42492 people have been killed in the war since the conflict started. The health ministry said not to discriminate between civil and militant casualties. But in more than half of the casualties, victims are most likely women and children.
On the international level, the reactions have been diverse in form and nature following the death of Sinwar. U.S. President Joe Biden endorsed the process, believing it would lead to a ceasefire and possibly a diplomatic resolution. “This is an opportunity to stop this terrible war and get a long-term political solution an opportunity for the Israelis and Palestinians to have a better life,” he said in a statement. He also said he expected that some of the approximately 100 remaining hostages believed to be held in Gaza might be freed because of Sinwar’s ouster.
What does Sinwar’s death entail for Hamas?
Yahya Sinwar had been a member of Team Hamas since the beginning of the organization and became a leader in the Gaza Strip after the death of Ismail Haniyeh in Israeli aggression in 2023. Sinwar’s demise is perhaps a major setback to the group, especially bearing in mind that he oversaw the planning of military attacks on Israel. Yet once again, Hamas does not seem to suffer from leadership deaths as much because it has a history of resilience even due to leadership losses, primarily because it is a loosely linked organization with a large support base.
In the then previous attacks, most senior Hamas commanders were eliminated only to be replaced by other individuals. Sinwar himself was born in 1973 and has been a key figure in the organization since an earlier generation of Hamas leaders emerged after previous Israeli raids. Some leaders, many experts, i.e., his passing might create a leadership vacuum in the short term, but Hamas will plod on.
Some Palestinians in Gaza have lamented, while others fought the sense of despair with their fists raised high. When one leader is defeated, another will emerge. From this contest, it can almost be guaranteed that a fresh new leader will arise. Hamas will not be defeated,” said Ahmed Hamdouna, a resident of northern Gaza who was turned out of his home by the strikes.
People in Gaza have argued that perhaps with Sinwar’s death, there shall be fewer attacks from Israel and ultimately be able to negotiate for a ceasefire. “What other goals do they have?” They’ve killed the leader. All that we wish for now is to go back to our homes,” said a woman displaced by fighting known as Umm Mohammed.
Future Strategies of Israel Military
As for Sinwar, which became the main target of the cyberattack, Israeli officials could not convey an understanding that the military operation was coming to an end. Cabinet Minister for Defense Yoav Gallant has maintained his stance that the Israelis are determined to continue attacking the Hamas militants and demolish their apparatus for as long as every hostage has not been released and Gaza has not been liberated from the Hamas regime. “This war is not yet over. Hamas militants still have a choice: If they do not want to surrender and release the hostages, they would be met with consequences, Gallant warned them.
Israel has also stepped up its activities on other fronts, especially the north, where it is in confrontation with Hezbollah. He added that a new front was launched by Israel earlier this month against Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, which augurs ill for a more extensive conflict.
Netanyahu has also given indications that Israel intends to retain custody of the strip in the short run to prevent Hamas from regrouping and accessing weapons. This has raised the odds of an extended military deployment, which may take months if not years. Concerning the length of the occupation, there has been a projection of criticisms from the international community mainly because the continuation of the occupation is likely to cause more havoc to regional stability.
The Road Ahead
However, there is no telling what effect, as Israel continues with its military campaign, Sinwar’s death will have. Though the Israeli leaders consider it a major achievement, the human loss in Gaza is still increasing, and people all over the world are demanding a ceasefire. Several situations indicate that the conflict is not near its resolution; over one hundred hostages are still held in Gaza, and Hamas is ready to go on with the resistance.
At the moment, their triumph is a symbolic strike against Sinwar that fortifies Israel’s position; however, the path to more sustainable peace remains strewn with challenges.
