New Delhi: Top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli Army, was carrying an UN employee id at the time of his death. As per media reports, Sinwar was carrying an id of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) teacher ID when he was killed during a faceoff with Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Other items recovered from Sinwar’s body include an AK-47 rifle, a cigarette lighter and Mentos candy; some cash, a booklet and beads were also found on him at the sight of the encounter. In a post on X, Israeli journalist Amit Segal shared the photos of the recoveries.
Mentos, money, an AK-47, a lighter, and a UNRWA employee ID: this is what was found on the body of the arch-terrorist Yahya Sinwar. pic.twitter.com/38d5C7nepG
— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) October 17, 2024
In a major turn of events, Sinwar, the main conspirator behind Hamas’s October 7 attack, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
The killing, coming just 10 days after Israelis and Palestinians marked a year since the deadliest fighting in their decades-old conflict erupted, could turn out to be a major turning point in the year-long war.
Israeli forces accidently came across Yahya Sinwar
Sinwar was reportedly found by chance during a battle in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza. Israeli troops unknowingly encountered him during combat, only to realise later that the body in the rubble was that of Israel’s most wanted man.
In recent months, Israel has targeted and killed several senior leaders from both Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah through airstrikes. Israel has also claimed to have killed the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike, though Hamas maintains he survived. However, in Sinwar’s case, Israeli soldiers located him unexpectedly during ground operations.
How Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces
An Israeli military official stated that Sinwar had engaged in combat with Israeli forces before fleeing into a building, which was then hit by tank fire. While the army had been aware of high-ranking Hamas officials, including Sinwar, in the area, he was not the specific target of that day’s mission, according to the official, who spoke under anonymity due to military briefing protocols.
Israel’s offensive has so far resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but reports that women and children account for just over half of the fatalities.
