Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 18, 2024, 12:09 PM
Israel Hamas War: Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the major attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, has finally been killed by the Israeli army. This information was given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz through a video message on Thursday night. Netanyahu said in this message, "We have settled the account, but the war is still on."How was Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar killed?On 16 October 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked a building during a routine operation in central Gaza. Three Hamas members were killed in this attack. Later investigation revealed that one of them was Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar's death was confirmed on social media by his face, teeth, and watch. A DNA test was done to finally confirm it.Death of Yahya Sinwar: The end of a year-long searchOn 7 October 2023, Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets at Israel and hundreds of fighters entered the Israeli border. Many Israeli civilians were killed in this attack and more than 200 people were taken hostage. Israel started efforts to kill Sinwar since the attack. There was also news of Sinwar's death on 23 September 2024, which proved to be false. Finally, Sinwar was killed on 16 October 2024.Sinwar's last moments: Drone footage releasedThe Israeli army has also released drone footage of Sinwar's last moments. In this footage, Sinwar is seen sitting on a dusty sofa in a ruined apartment. His head and face are covered with a scarf, and he throws his stick when the drone comes close. According to Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagar, when this footage was taken, the army did not know that this person was Sinwar. He was thought to be injured, but later when the bodies were examined after the bombing, he was identified as Sinwar.Netanyahu's statement: "The account is settled, but the war continues"After the death of Yahya Sinwar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a big victory over Hamas and said that the war is not over yet. According to Netanyahu, "The person who carried out the most horrific massacre against Jews in history has been killed. However, our war can end only when Hamas returns our hostages."Who leads Hamas now?After Sinwar's death, the Israeli army has now started searching for other prominent Hamas leaders. Israel is especially keeping an eye on Sinwar's brother Muhammad Sinwar. Muhammad is one of the military commanders of Hamas and has a strong hold in Gaza.Iran's responseIran has reacted to the death of Yahya Sinwar. Iran's mission to the United Nations said that Sinwar's death will further increase resistance against Israel. Iran also said that Sinwar will become a role model for Palestinian youth and the fight against Israeli occupation will continue until Palestine is liberated.Other Hamas leaders also killedBefore Yahya Sinwar, former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was also killed on 31 July 2024. Haniyeh was killed in a missile attack in Iran, which was carried out by Israel. Haniyeh had gone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pazshkian, where he was attacked.ConclusionThe death of Yahya Sinwar has brought a new twist in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. This is a major victory for Israel, but according to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the conflict will continue until all Hamas hostages are released and Hamas is completely destroyed. On the other hand, Sinwar's death may further increase the feeling of opposition among Hamas supporters.It is clear that the end of this conflict is not near in the near future, and its regional and global effects can be far-reaching.