Israel probing if Sinwar is dead owing to Hamas chief being incommunicado: Report

Israel is investigating the possibility of Yahya Sinwar being dead as theHamas's Gaza-based chief has been incommunicado for a relatively long time, a report in The Times of Israel citing several Hebrew media outletshas claimed.

Israel Defense Force (IDF) Military Intelligence Directorate has claimed that Sinwar may have been killed in strikes in Gaza. However, there wasn't sufficientnon-circumstantial evidence to prove this, while the Shin Bet agency believes he may be alive.

"Sources quoted by Haaretz said Israel has in recent months bombed tunnels in areas where Sinwar was suspected to be hiding, but there is no clear indication that he has been hit and he could be purposely keeping a low profile," the report noted.

Alongside now-killed Mohammed Deif, the head ofQassam Brigades, Sinwar planned the October 7 attacks, whose foundations were set in place after IDF carried out a raid on Al Aqsa mosque in May 2021.

Watch |Hamas chief Haniyeh’s assassination: Iran orders attack on Israel: Report

Sinwar replaces Haniyeh

Sinwar succeededIsmail Haniyeh after the latter was killed in Iran. Haniyeh was allegedly neutralised by Israel using an explosive device that was smuggled into the guesthouse he was staying at a guesthouse in Tehran.

According to reports, the bomb was hidden in the guesthouse months ago and triggered when Haniyeh was staying there on his trip to attend the inauguration of new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Who is Sinwar?

Born in Khan Younis in 1962, Sinwar is seen as one of theuncompromising top officials of Hamas. In the early 1980s, Sinwar was repeatedly arrested by Israel because of his involvement in anti-occupation activism held at the Islamic University in Gaza.

After completing his graduation, Sinwar set up a network of fighters who were trained for armed resistance against Israel. Later, this group became the well-known Qassam Brigades, which is the military wing of Hamas.

In the 23 years he spent in Israel's jail, Sinwar learnt Hebrew and also got well-versed in Israel's political affairs. In 2011, he was released as part of the prisoner exchange deal in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released from Hamas.

For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, killing Sinwar would help send a message that Hamas' top leadership had been completely wiped out - making it easier for him to end the military campaign in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies)