Israel on Thursday said it had killed Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, in Gaza. Sinwar, who has been Hamas’s top leader in Gaza for years, took control of the group’s political bureau in August after Israel killed the previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, the preceding month. The Israeli military said there was no presence of hostages in the area of operations in Gaza. Earlier this month, the Israeli military also said it killed Rawhi Mushtaha, another senior Hamas political official and one of a few people considered closest to Sinwar. Sinwar could be succeeded by his deputy in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, who has represented Hamas in cease-fire negotiations with Israel, or by former Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 17, 2024 15:39 UTC