IDF confirms Yahya Sinwar's death with DNA analysis after cutting off his finger
To ensure accurate identification, troops removed a finger to compare DNA with a profile from when Sinwar was imprisoned in Israel for nearly two decades before his 2011 release in a prisoner swap deal
PTC Web Desk: Amidst ongoing tensions in the Gaza region, Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas' political bureau, was reported killed during an intelligence-led ground operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Gaza. The operation took place in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, where IDF’s 828 Brigade discovered Sinwar’s body. According to CNN, Israeli troops conducted a detailed identification process, cutting off a finger for DNA analysis to confirm his identity.
The IDF ground team entered the hideout and discovered a body resembling Sinwar’s. To ensure accurate identification, troops removed a finger to compare DNA with a profile from when Sinwar was imprisoned in Israel for nearly two decades before his 2011 release in a prisoner swap deal. CNN quoted Chen Kugel, the chief pathologist at the Israel National Center of Forensic Medicine, explaining that the DNA profile matched the records from Sinwar's earlier imprisonment. Kugel mentioned that initial identification attempts using dental records were deemed insufficient.
Social media platforms circulated videos showing Israeli troops examining the hideout. One video depicted two soldiers beside a body believed to be Sinwar’s, with the left hand’s index finger removed. However, CNN noted that their analysis of these videos showed inconsistencies, with one clip displaying the body’s hand intact, while another later showed a missing finger.
Reports indicate that Yahya Sinwar died from a gunshot wound to the head. Chen Kugel, the chief pathologist who conducted the autopsy, confirmed that although the Hamas leader sustained additional injuries, including damage from a tank shell, it was a bullet wound that proved fatal.
The IDF reportedly fired a tank shell into the hideout before launching the ground operation to assess damage and check for any survivors.
Following Sinwar’s death, Hamas is reportedly in the process of appointing a new political leader, potentially based outside of Gaza. Meanwhile, his brother, Mohammad Sinwar, is expected to assume a more significant role in leading the conflict against Israel within the region. Sinwar was a key figure behind the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 casualties and triggered a prolonged Israeli military response in Gaza, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths.