--- title: Yahya Sinwar slug: yahya-sinwar-7a63a url: /detay/yahya-sinwar-7a63a type: biography language: English entity: primary: Yahya Sinwar type: biography disambiguation: Yahya Sinwar: Hamas leader, architect of the October 2023 Gaza attack. Learn about his life and death. categories: - name: General Knowledge slug: genel-kultur url: /kategori/genel-kultur - name: History slug: tarih url: /kategori/tarih - name: Islam slug: islam url: /kategori/islam tags: - October 7 attack - Yahya Sinwar - İslam - Hamas - Gaza author: Hüsnü Umut Okur created_at: 2025-09-12T15:35:13.635103+03:00 updated_at: 2026-02-03T17:52:20.404647+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/09/12/W1vg48cXzCSNRangbhTs2VbFZimKSjs8.jpg --- # Yahya Sinwar > Yahya Sinwar, who served as Hamas’s leader in Gaza, lost his life in 2024 during an Israeli attack. ## KURE Information Cards ![thumbs_b_c_0c6b6d03ad693d0ad5b337124d6a90fa.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/09/12/2i9lnmYHp1pce8vD1S4MDK7fyVPMeEWO.jpg) *Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Position(s) | Hamas Gaza Leader (2017–2024) | | Prison Term | released in 2011 in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange,received four life sentences,Arrested in 1988 | | Notable Role | identified as one of the senior organisers of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel | | Works | Thorns and Carnations: The Unknown Story of Palestine | | Education | Gaza Islamic University Department of Arabic Language | | Death Date | May 1, 2024 | | Birth Date | January 1, 1965 | ## Article Content ### **Education** [Yahya Ibrahim Hassan al-Sinwar](/en/detay/yahya-sinwar-bf8c7/llms.txt) was born in 1962 in a refugee camp in [Khan Yunis](/en/detay/han-yunus-massacres-d62b9/llms.txt), Gaza. His family migrated from Ashkelon to Gaza following the 1948 Arab-[Israeli](/en/detay/free-palestine-be0dc/llms.txt) War. He studied Arabic Language and Literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. During his university years, he became increasingly politicized and established connections with Islamic movements. ### **Political Career** In the 1980s, he was among the founding members of [Hamas](/en/detay/israels-assassination-operation-against-the-hamas-/llms.txt) and played an active role in the organization’s internal security structure. He established the internal intelligence network “al-Majd,” which was responsible for identifying individuals accused of collaborating with Israel. In 1988, he was arrested for his activities against Israel and sentenced to four life terms on charges related to the killing of four Israeli soldiers. After spending many years in prison, he was released in 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange deal for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Following his release, Sinwar’s influence within Hamas grew significantly, leading to his election as the leader of Gaza in 2017, a position he retained after being re-elected in 2021. ### **Role in the October 7 Event** On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale, surprise attack against Israel. Israeli authorities identified Yahya Sinwar as one of the principal architects of the assault and placed him at the center of Hamas’s military and political decision-making in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister referred to him as the “Bin Laden of Gaza.” Following the attacks, Sinwar became one of the top figures on Israel’s most-wanted list. ### **Passing** In May 2024, it was announced that he had died during an [Israeli airstrike on Gaza](/en/detay/israels-attacks-on-the-gaza-strip-2025-3befd/llms.txt). The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, and Hamas also confirmed Sinwar’s death. According to reports from Anadolu Agency, it was revealed that in the three days leading up to his death, he had not eaten anything.[^1] However, conflicting statements and uncertainties remained regarding the exact place and circumstances of his death. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Al Jazeera. “Yahya Sinwar Obituary.” Al Jazeera, October 17, 2024. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/17/yahya-sinwar-obituaryAnadolu Agency. “Hamas Movement Announces That Its Leader Yahya Sinwar Has Passed Away in an Israeli Strike.” Anadolu Agency, June 3, 2024. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/hamas-hareketin-leader-yahya-sinvar-in-israil-saldirisinda-hayatini-kaybettigini-acikladi/3366274Anadolu Agency. “Hamas Leader Sinwar Had Not Eaten Anything for Three Days Before the Strike That Took His Life.” Anadolu Agency, July 8, 2024. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/hamas-leader-sinvar-hayatini-kaybettigi-saldiridan-once-3-gun-boyunca-hicbir-sey-yememis/3383530Anadolu Agency. “The Era of Yahya Sinwar in Hamas Resistance.” Anadolu Agency, April 17, 2024. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/analiz/hamas-direnisinde-yahya-sinvar-donemi/3303323BBC Türkçe. “Who Is Yahya Sinwar?” BBC News Türkçe. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cm2nnq90d6zoHaber7. “Who Is Yahya Sinwar and Where Is He From?” Haber7, 2023. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.haber7.com/biyografi/haber/3448814-yahya-sinvar-kimdir-ve-nerelidir-nerede-yasiyor-hamas-leader-yahya-sinvarin-biyografisiYeni Akit. “Yahya Sinwar.” Yeni Akit Biography. Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.yeniakit.com.tr/biyografi/yahya-sinvar ## Citations [^1]: AA. ‘Hamas leader Sinvar had not eaten anything for three days prior to the attack in which he lost his life.’ Accessed 9 August 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/hamas-lideri-sinvar-hayatini-kaybettigi-saldiridan-once-3-gun-boyunca-hicbir-sey-yememis/3383530.