Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar was a Palestinian militant and politician who served as the de facto leader of Hamas. He was the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau from August 2024 and the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip from February 2017 until his death, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh in both roles
How Israel killed Hamas leader Sinwar in a chance encounter
Israeli troops had for more than a year hunted the leader of Hamas, who disappeared in Gaza soon after masterminding the 7 October attacks.
Yahya Sinwar, 61, was said to have spent much of his time hiding in the tunnels under the Strip, along with a cadre of bodyguards and a "human shield" of hostages seized from Israel.
But ultimately, it appears he met his end in a chance encounter with an Israeli patrol in southern Gaza. His guard detail was small. No hostages were found.
Details are still emerging, but here's what we know so far about Sinwar's killing.