IDF spokesperson: We’re actively searching for Sinwar’s brother Muhammad and all Hamas military commanders

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Objects found with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar when he was killed in Gaza on October 16, 2024. (Screen capture/Channel 12)
Objects found with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar when he was killed in Gaza on October 16, 2024. (Screen capture/Channel 12)

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had 40,000 shekels on him when he was killed in Rafah yesterday, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says as he presents the drone video of Sinwar’s final moments.

He confirms that the IDF “identified him as a terrorist in a building” and did not know it was Sinwar. “We fired on the building and went in to search. We found him with a flak jacket and a gun and NIS 40,000.”

Sinwar had apparently been moving around in the tunnels in the area for some time, Hagari says. He was probably attempting “to escape to the north, to safer areas” as the IDF closed in. “He was fleeing from house to house, we identified him as a terrorist, we closed in professionally and eliminated him.”

Hagari says the IDF was tracking Sinwar for months, and that his DNA had been found in a tunnel a few hundred meters from where Hamas murdered six hostages in August.

He says that Israel is actively searching for Muhammad Sinwar, brother of the slain Hamas leader, and all Hamas military commanders.

Hagari says that the IDF will continue to operate in Gaza against Hamas terrorists and their infrastructure.

He also denies that Israel is enacting a reported “General’s plan” to besiege northern Gaza. He says that the IDF has its own plans, which follow international law.

He also says that Golani soldiers captured Hezbollah operatives in the incident in which five members of the Golani Reconnaissance unit were killed yesterday.

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