I was astounded when I read the news that the IDF had killed Sinwar, and also somewhat disbelieving. But when I read that they had announced that DNA testing had confirmed his identity, I became convinced that Sinwar has finally met his end.
The circumstances are amazing in the sense that we had read he was always surrounded by twenty-or-so hostages. But that’s not how the scenario went:
Sinwar, architect of the October 7 Hamas invasion and slaughter in southern Israel, was shot dead along with two other terrorists in a firefight in Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency announced.
He was not being directly targeted, and troops only realized that one of the three dead terrorists was apparently Sinwar when they inspected the scene of the firefight on Thursday morning. …
Part of Sinwar’s finger was removed for expedited testing as the location was booby-trapped. His body was extracted and brought to Israel later Thursday.
In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet said Israel’s military activities gradually constricted Sinwar’s area of operations, ultimately leading to his death.
There was some intelligence that Hamas “senior officials” were hiding in the area, but it seems pretty clear that the troops didn’t know they had zeroed in on Sinwar until after he was dead. More intelligence afterwards – “indications from Gaza” – also let them know that Sinwar might have died.
I sometimes wonder how it is that Israel has enough DNA information on these terrorists to identify their bodies, but there are several ways it could happen. The first is through relatives. But for Sinwar, there’s another obvious method, which is that he was in Israeli prisons for many years and only released in the Shalit deal. While in Israel he had major medical treatment for cancer. I strongly suspect that Israel is very familiar with his DNA for that reason.
And this is especially interesting, if true:
According to an unsourced report on Channel 12, Sinwar had previously been hiding with the six hostages who were executed by their Hamas captors on August 29 and whose bodies were recovered by the IDF on August 31 — Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 27.
It said Sinwar likely gave the order to kill the six as he fled.
It said the firefight on Wednesday took place in the same area as the six hostages were held and killed.
It also said that the IDF had checked when the six hostages’ bodies were recovered whether terrorists killed in the area had included Sinwar. This was found not to be the case, but indications, including DNA evidence, were found at the time that Sinwar had been in the area.
I remember that reports of the killing of the six hostages included the note that the area was checked for the DNA of terrorists.
Not only was the area where Sinwar was killed boody-trapped, but he was wearing a military vest with grenades.
And remember all the shrieking a while back from the Biden administration and much of the world that the Israelis shouldn’t go into Rafah? Fortunately Israel didn’t listen.
I think it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Sinwar was the architect of October 7 and the political leader of Hamas. I hope his death will serve to deeply demoralize remaining Hamas forces and those Gazans who have supported Hamas.
Various world leaders have used the opportunity of Sinwar’s death to renew calls for a ceasefire; I kid you not. And Biden has done some bragging, saying the Israelis did it with the help of his administration:
Biden says he will soon speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders “to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people.”
Actually, it’s an opportunity to end this war by finishing the job in the military sense.
From Netanyahu:
Turning to the hostage families, Netanyahu says this is “an important moment” in the war. “We will continue with all our strength until the return of all of your loved ones, who are our loved ones.”
Netanyahu then turns to Gazan civilians: “Sinwar ruined your life. He told you he was a lion, but in reality he was hiding in a dark den. And he was killed when he fled in a panic from our soldiers.”
“To the Hamas terrorists I say: your leaders are fleeing and they will be eliminated,” he continues.
He says that anyone holding hostages will be allowed to live if they lay down their weapons and release their captives.
“And at the same time I say, whoever harms our hostages, his blood will be on his head,” says Netanyahu. ” We will come to a reckoning with him.” …
Addressing the people of the Middle East, Netanyahu says there is “a great opportunity to stop the axis of evil and create a different future.”
Netanyahu says that Sinwar’s killing makes clear to critics in Israel and abroad why his government insisted on continuing the war.
I think it’s always been clear. Problem is, Israel’s “critics” don’t want Israel to win this war.
Nevertheless, this is a day of great hope.
