Israeli pathologist shares autopsy details of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
Hamas: According to an Israeli autopsy, Yahya Sinwar was shot in the head and died as a result. The Hamas leader’s corpse arrived at the Israel National Centre of Forensic Medicine with a finger amputated, according to an expert there.
In an interview with a media report, top pathologist Chen Kugel said that Sinwar’s finger was amputated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) so that DNA could be examined. He said that he was “100%” certain both about the identification of the corpse that was taken to the lab and that the gunshot wound was the cause of death. He continued by saying that the head of Hamas had further wounds, including those from a tank shell.
“We cross-referenced the DNA sample that was submitted to us with the profile of Sinwar that was present in our laboratory records during his imprisonment here,” Kugel said to CNN. He added that while dental records were first used by IDF forces to try to identify him, they were not “certified enough.”
A tank is seen shooting at the building where Sinwar’s corpse was discovered in a video that the IDF posted. According to sources, the 828 Brigade of the IDF, which was conducting operations in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, murdered Sinwar during an intelligence-based ground attack in southern Gaza.
Other footage that the Israeli military has posted on social media shows two troops standing next to a corpse that is said to be Sinwar’s, although it lacks its index finger. CNN claimed to have examined footage showing his left hand with all five fingers present and subsequently with one gone.
After a year-long search, Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 strikes on Israel, started the conflict in Gaza and was assassinated on October 16 in a confrontation with Israeli soldiers. The news of his death broke on October 17.
A video of some of his last moments shows him attempting to toss a stick at a drone while wearing a mask and being injured in a residence destroyed by shell shock. In a statement expressing grief over Sinwar’s passing, Hamas stated that “he died a hero, attacking, not fleeing, clutching his rifle, and engaging against the occupation army at the front line.” It also stated that his passing will only galvanize the movement and that they will not back down from demands in order to achieve an agreement on a ceasefire with Israel.
About 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, were murdered in the planned onslaught on Israel a year ago, and according to Israeli estimates, another 253 were taken as captives and sent back to Gaza. Over 42,000 Palestinians have died in the ensuing conflict in Gaza, and another 10,000 are believed to be buried under the debris, according to Gaza health officials.
