IDF chief visits site of Sinwar’s killing, says army didn’t have intel Hamas chief was there

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi visits the site where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Rafah on October 17, 2024. (IDF)
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi visits the site where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Rafah on October 17, 2024. (IDF)

At the Gaza site where Yahya Sinwar was killed yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi notes that the IDF didn’t have intelligence ahead of time that the Hamas leader was there.

“Look, we have done many special forces operations in this war, where he had excellent information, we sent prepared troops with instructions where to go,” he says. “Here, we didn’t know. and the response is very strong, its not weak. Its your professionalism, and determination, and the precise identification and the awareness.”

He says that the Southern Command and Gaza Division decision to hold on to territory in Gaza and actively operate there was proven correct.

Halevi is joined by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, IDF Southern Command head Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, Head of the Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Oded Basyuk, and Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram.

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