: JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed moments after making a “critical mistake”, according to Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces briefed the media late on Thursday, describing Sinwar’s final minutes, including how the Hamas leader left a tunnel he was hiding in.
The IDF had forced him to “make this mistake” and “move like a fugitive” as they gradually closed off streets and blew up tunnels in the area, Maj Doron Spielman explained.
“In fact, just yesterday he did so. He left the tunnel, went into an apartment building, and Hamas opened fire on Israeli troops. A tank returned fire, and he was killed in that attack,” he said.
The IDF added that it has expanded its operations in the Jabalia area in northern Gaza where Sinwar was eliminated.
Overnight, it claimed “dozens of terrorists” were killed in “incidents and airstrikes”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a special security meeting at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv today, alongside government ministers and security officials, according to reports.
The meeting will focus on potential progress in negotiations for a hostage deal in light of Yahya Sinwar’s death, the reports indicate, according to Hebrew media.
Yahya Sinwar threw a stick at an Israeli drone in an apparent act of desperation moments before he was killed.
The Hamas leader was tracked by an Israeli mini drone as he lay dying in the ruins of a building in southern Gaza.
He was filmed covered in dust as slumped in a chair, according to footage released by Israel.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari told reporters: “Sinwar fled alone into one of the buildings. Our forces used a drone to scan the area, which you can see here in the footage I’m presenting.”
“Sinwar, who was injured in his hand by gunfire, can be seen here with his face covered, in his final moments, throwing a wooden plank at the drone,” he added.
“He tried to escape and our forces eliminated him.”
Iran’s mission to the United Nations said Thursday the killing of Yahya Sinwar would lead to the strengthening of “resistance” in the region, hours after Israel said it had killed the Hamas chief.
“The spirit of resistance will be strengthened. He will become a model for the youth and children who will carry forward his path toward the liberation of Palestine,” the mission said in a post on X. “As long as occupation and aggression exist, resistance will endure, for the martyr remains alive and a source of inspiration.”
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