In a recent interview with Dr. Chen Kugel, who supervised the autopsy of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, he revealed that Sinwar died from a gunshot wound to the head. Initial reports suggest that he sustained injuries to his arm from shrapnel, likely originating from a missile or tank shell.

Dr. Kugel explained that Sinwar had attempted to fashion a makeshift tourniquet by wrapping a cable around his injured arm. Unfortunately, the cable was insufficiently sturdy, leading to the complete shattering of his forearm.

While the gunshot ultimately caused Sinwar’s death, questions remain regarding the identity of the shooter, the timing of the shot, and the specific type of weapon used. According to the Israeli military, Sinwar was killed during a regular reconnaissance operation on the 16th.

They stated that soldiers from the 828th Brigade encountered three Palestinian militants while patrolling the city of Rafah. During the ensuing chase, Sinwar separated from the other two militants. The Israeli forces then launched artillery strikes against buildings where the two militants were hiding, as well as against the structure that housed Sinwar.

Israeli media and military officials noted that there was no intelligence indicating that Sinwar was present in that area at the time. Footage released by the military showed a disheveled Sinwar sitting in a dust-covered armchair, staring at a drone entering a destroyed building. The hazy video revealed him alone, with serious injuries to his hands, wrapped in a traditional headscarf. In his final moments, he threw a stick at the approaching drone.

The Israeli military confirmed Sinwar’s identity through DNA tests, dental forensics, and other investigative techniques. After orchestrating a deadly attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, Sinwar had not made any public appearances. His death marks a significant blow to Hamas, which has been engaged in conflict with Israeli forces in Gaza for over a year.