The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are ramping up their military operations in Gaza following the death of Yahya Sinwar, a senior leader of Hamas.
IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari shared new insights about the operation that led to Sinwar’s demise, revealing that he was found with 40,000 shekels (NIS) at the time of his death. During a briefing, Hagari also presented drone footage capturing Sinwar’s last moments, emphasizing the significance of the operation.
In a report by Times of Israel, Hagari explained that the IDF initially identified Sinwar as a general threat in a building but did not realize it was him until after the operation commenced. The IDF first fired on the building and subsequently conducted a search where they discovered Sinwar equipped with a flak jacket, a firearm, and a substantial amount of cash. He indicated that Sinwar had been hiding in the area’s tunnels for an extended period, likely trying to escape north as Israeli forces advanced.
The IDF had been monitoring Sinwar for months. Hagari noted that DNA evidence associated with Sinwar had been found in a tunnel just meters from where Hamas executed six hostages in August. This intelligence-gathering effort culminated in Sinwar’s elimination, marking a critical setback for Hamas’s leadership.
In addition to pursuing Yahya Sinwar, the IDF is actively looking for his brother, Muhammad Sinwar, who is also a notable Hamas figure. Hagari stressed that Israeli forces are determined to capture all Hamas military commanders as part of a broader strategy to dismantle the group’s leadership structure.
He said, “We fired on the building and went into search. We found him with a flak jacket, a gun, and NIS 40,000. He was fleeing from house to house. We identified him as a terrorist, we closed in professionally, and eliminated him.”
Amid speculation regarding a potential plan to encircle northern Gaza, Hagari refuted the existence of a so-called “General’s plan” that has circulated in some media. He clarified that the IDF operates according to its own strategies tailored to the conflict, ensuring compliance with international law. This statement reinforces the IDF’s commitment to following its established operational protocols.
In a related development, Hagari addressed a recent incident in southern Lebanon where five soldiers from the Golani Reconnaissance unit were killed. He confirmed that these soldiers managed to capture Hezbollah operatives during the confrontation, illustrating the complex nature of Israel’s military operations across multiple fronts and highlighting the challenges faced by the IDF in the region.
