Hamas leader's death a victory for Israel, but peace may remain elusive

Israeli leaders hint at end to conflict, but others see it as chance to press on with war

- Jonathan Eyal

In the end, the death of Yahya Sinwar – leader of the Hamas militant organisation that inflicted the most significant blow to Israel since the Jewish state's formation – did not come at the hands of some stealthy Israeli commando squad, but by sheer chance.

He was killed on Oct 17 when a routine patrol of Israeli infantry troops in Gaza confronted him. The soldiers had no idea they had stumbled upon Israel's most-wanted fugitive, and it took some time before DNA records established Sinwar's identity.

This was a curious and rather inglorious end to a man who sought and, at least for a while, seemed poised to change the strategic map of the Middle East. The critical question now is whether his demise offers the region a chance for a more peaceful existence.

There is no doubt Sinwar's death is a major tactical victory for Israel. He was not only a ruthless and efficient commander, but also possessed a shrewd understanding of Israeli tactics.

The 61-year-old Sinwar – born in a Gaza refugee camp to parents evicted from what is today's Israel – rose to prominence as a founder of the so-called Al Majd internal security service within Hamas, which was responsible for weeding out those suspected of spying for Israel.

Ironically, he languished in Israeli jails for almost 23 years not for killing Jews, but for assassinating several fellow Palestinians.

He used that time to acquire a perfect command of Hebrew and a lifelong interest in following every twist of Israeli politics.

It was these two traits – an obsession with domestic secrecy and a superior understanding of Israel – that transformed Sinwar into Israel's deadliest enemy.

He planned and executed the Oct 7, 2023, surprise attack that fooled Israel's intelligence services and resulted in the killing of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of a further 250.