The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and this is unlikely to bring about an end to the war in Gaza – in fact, it could make it even worse.
At around 10 a.m. on Oct. 16, a soldier in the 450th Battalion of the Israeli Ground Forces' Bislamach Brigade spotted suspicious figures entering and exiting a building in their vicinity while they were out on patrol near the southern Gazan refugee camp of Tel-al Sultan, near the border with Egypt.
The IDF spent several hours observing the individuals. By 3 p.m., the IDF identified three individuals, including Sinwar, moving from house to house in an attempt to move away from the vicinity of Israeli forces. Two figures were covered in blankets, walking ahead of Sinwar to clear the way.
The commander of the 450th Battalion ordered his troops to open fire on the group, causing them to scatter. Sinwar's attendants fled into one building, while he into another.
Sinwar was observed attempting to hide out in the living room of an apartment on the second floor of the building he hid in. The IDF responded by firing at the building with a tank. In an attempt to clear out the militants, IDF officers ordered a unit to sweep the buildings. Two grenades were thrown at them, forcing the unit to retreat. A drone was sent. The drone captured footage of an injured figure, face covered, sitting on a chair in the room.
Sinwar would later die that day or early the next day. His two attendants were also killed following a short firefight with the IDF. One IDF soldier was severely injured by gunfire.
Israel no longer interested in just defeating Hamas – now it wants to conquer and annex Gaza
Israeli journalist and military and political analyst Meron Rapoport warned that the killing of Hamas' leader is unlikely to stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist government from its offensives in Gaza and Lebanon. (Related: Israel's forever wars in the Middle East will pave the way for its demise.)
Following reports of Sinwar's death and Hamas' confirmation of it, there was speculation that Israel is no longer interested in just defeating Hamas. Rapoport noted that this might have been possible several months ago, but the goal has now changed to include the conquest of the Strip and the ethnic cleansing of its native Palestinian population.
"The elimination of Hamas and the return of the hostages was not the goal of the war in recent times," said Rapoport. "The goal is to change the borders of the Gaza Strip and to eliminate Palestinian nationalism in Gaza and transfer as many people as possible."
The journalist further warned that, even if Netanyahu was interested in ending the war following Sinwar's death, the IDF top brass might be impossible to rein in, as they are now interested in carrying out what is known as the "General's Plan," which calls for the ethnic cleansing and occupation of northern Gaza.
"The road back from this war is very complex," warned Rapoport. "A dynamic has developed that the army itself will find difficult to stop."
Watch this clip of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's last moments, as observed by an Israeli drone.
This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.
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