Inside Israel’s probe into Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar’s ‘death’ amid claims ‘Gaza’s Bin Laden’ was killed in airstrike
HAMAS terror chief Yahya Sinwar may have been killed in an airstrike on Gaza - with Israel set to investigate the new claims.
Sinwar, dubbed Gaza's Bin Laden, only took over as the official leader of the terror group in August but fresh unconfirmed reports say he has finally been eliminated by the Israeli military.
The rumours of his death started to circulate throughout Israeli media after broadcaster Kan said they believe he was wiped out in a precise missile attack in the war-torn Gaza region.
No further details around his apparent death such as where and when he may have been killed have been released yet.
Despite this sources close to the investigators looking into the claims say it is "highly unlikely", report .
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has labelled Sinwar as their top target ever since he is said to have masterminded the heinous October 7 attacks.
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In the 11 months since the barbaric massacre, Sinwar has evaded death on several occasions.
The US military even ramped up the hunt for Hamas boss last month by shipping in radar to trace the kingpin’s tunnel lair where they say he has been cowering.
The potential news of his death is yet to be commented on by intelligence agencies across the globe.
Intelligence communities are said to be still split on whether Sinwar is actually dead, Israeli media reports.
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Respected journalist Ben Caspit quoted sceptical sources as saying: "There have also been times in the past when he disappeared and we thought he was dead, but then he reappeared."
Fellow reporter Barak Ravid also told his followers on X that Israel has no solid information suggesting that Sinwar is dead.
He quoted a senior official as saying: "These are hopes and guesses that are based only on the fact that Sinwar has been cut off from contact for several weeks."
Israel's Walla news site have reported that the top intelligence agency in the country, Shin Bet, still believe he is alive.
The reason why questions have started to be raised over his potential demise is due to a clear lack of noise surrounded the new Hamas chief.
He has reportedly been out of touch with Hamas representatives who are leading ceasefire negotiations with several countries striving for an end to the war.
As the boss of the terror group Sinwar is expected to be the man who decides if the organisation accepts a deal to stop the fighting.
Sinwar previously spent 22 years in an Israeli prison for terrorism, murder and kidnap plots.
Wanted posters shared online, not by the IDF, previously appeared to offer a £25,000 reward to Palestinians who turned him in.
Israel’s military chiefs have repeatedly vowed that their renewed offensive must not end until he is dead.
He is believed to be hiding in the tunnels under the city, used by the terror group to move, transport weapons and even hold hostages.
The IDF has already managed to wipe out most of the Hamas top brass in recent months.
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Former leader of the group Ismail Haniyeh was blown up at around 2am in his sleep in July in a suspected Israeli assassination.
The IDF also claimed to have wiped out Mohammed Deif in July in Khan Younis on the south of the Strip.