October 17, 2024 Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza, Israel says

Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, has been killed by Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza, Israel has confirmed. Video footage released by Israel show his body in the house where he was killed.

Sinwar had led the armed group in Gaza since 2017 and was described by Israel and the US as the mastermind behind the 7 October attacks, when Hamas gunmen killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, said: "Today, as we promised to do, we settled the score with him."

The Israeli military said Sinwar was among three militants killed on Wednesday during a raid on a building in Rafah suspected of being used by senior Hamas members.

Israel said Sinwar had been spotted by chance in the city of Rafah by amilitary patrol, along with three other suspects and he was seen entering a building. It’s said a drone then tracked him in the building and the Hamas leader was then killed.

Confirmation of his death was delayed for several hours, as Israel compared dental records and fingerprints.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Jeremy Bowen, Frank Gardner and Sarah Smith.