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Tel Aviv, Israel
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was "eliminated" by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), earlier this week, tried to instil hatred in his 10-year-old son for Israel through letters, according to Israeli media reports.
Israeli troops searched homes near where Sinwar was killed, and reportedly found letters he sent and received, including his correspondence with his son.
Sinwar wrote several sermons to his son, which were excoriating Israel, according to a local media outlet, Channel 12.
His 10-year-old boy in turn reportedly sent his father drawings of dead Israeli soldiers, and at one point was said to ask when the war would end.
Sinwar was considered to be the architect of the deadly October 7 attack on Israel, where thousands of people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in Gaza.
The Hamas chief was killed on Wednesday (Oct 16) in a chance encounter with Israeli troops operating in southern Gaza's Rafah.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that Sinwar was on the move, trying to hide as the Israeli troops made advances in Rafah. He was possibly shot in his hand and was hiding in the building when the IDF soldiers hit it.
Notably, Sinwar had been imprisoned for 23 years in an Israeli prison for the murder of Palestinians whom he suspected of cooperating with Israel.
In October 2011, he was one of over 1000 prisoners Israel released in return for Gilad Shalit, a soldier Hamas abducted in 2006.
Watch | Israel-Hamas War: Death of Yahya Sinwar a Heavy Blow to Palestinian Group, Says Israel
Following Sinwar's killing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. "To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message. This war can end tomorrow."
“It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages. Israel will guarantee the safety of all those who return our hostages,” Netanyahu added.
Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)