Autopsy confirms Yahya Sinwar’s shooting death, Hamas leader’s death intensifies conflict in Gaza

An autopsy by Israeli authorities found that Yahya Sinwar, a prominent Hamas leader, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Chen Kugel, chief pathologist at the Israeli National Center for Forensic Medicine, confirmed these findings in an interview with CNN.

He said Sinwar’s body was received with a severed finger, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) removed for DNA analysis. Kugel expressed full confidence in the identification of the body and the cause of death, also mentioning other injuries, including those caused by a tank shell.

The Israeli military released images showing a tank firing at the building where Sinwar’s body was discovered, indicating he was killed during an intelligence-based ground raid in southern Gaza by the 828th Brigade of the Israeli army, operating in the Tel al-Sultan region of Rafah.

In videos shared by the IDF, two soldiers were seen standing next to a body they claimed was that of Sinwar, who was missing a finger. However, CNN analysis showed earlier footage of Sinwar with all five fingers intact.

Sinwar was considered one of the main architects of the October 7 attacks on Israel, which left around 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians. After a year-long manhunt, he was killed on October 16 and his death was announced the next day.

In footage captured shortly before his death, Sinwar is seen in a damaged apartment, injured and attempting to fight back against an approaching drone.

A Hamas statement commemorated him as a hero, saying his death would only strengthen the movement’s resolve and that it would not give in to the terms of a ceasefire with Israel.