Israeli media reported that Yahya Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau, may have been killed during an Israeli military attack on Gaza.
Two media outlets, KAN and N12 News, cited unnamed officials on Thursday, suggesting that Sinwar had been killed, although Hamas has not officially confirmed this.
The Israeli army said it was investigating whether Sinwar was among three Palestinian fighters targeted in a recent air strike on Gaza. Sinwar, who assumed leadership of Hamas after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last July, is considered one of the most wanted figures in Israel.
He allegedly organized the cross-border attack on October 7, which led to the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 45,000 people, according to local health authorities.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has left the region in ruins, made worse by the blockade that has cut off basic supplies such as food, water and medicine. While Israel has liquidated a number of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in recent months, no information has been received from Hamas regarding Sinwar’s fate.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high between Israel and Iran. Earlier Thursday, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, warned Israel against launching any aggression against Iran, threatening retaliatory strikes. There is also speculation about possible Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear or oil infrastructure, as Israel has previously hinted at such possibilities.