Israel's military said it is investigating "the possibility" that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed.
The Israel Defense Forces said three terrorists were killed in "IDF operations" and that it and the Israeli Security Agency, better known as Shin Bet, are "checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar."
"At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed," the IDF statement added.
Sinwar is Hamas's most senior leader and is believed to be the mastermind behind the U.S.-designated terrorist group's devastating Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people in southern Israel and kidnapped about 250 others.
In the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history, Israel launched a war in Gaza seeking to destroy Hamas's military capabilities and remove them from power in the enclave. Israeli forces have degraded Hamas's brigades and killed several senior leaders, though Sinwar had been able to evade Israeli forces for more than a year.
Over the last several months, Israeli forces have killed several of Hamas's leaders, both in Gaza and abroad, including Marwan Issa, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; Muhammad Deif, the top military commander; and Ismail Haniyeh, the top political Hamas official based outside Gaza. Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran on July 31, in a bombing that Israel never publicly took credit for but is presumed to be responsible.
U.S. officials have said in recent weeks that Sinwar has refused to budge in the negotiations to bring about a ceasefire deal and release of the remaining hostages. It's unclear how Sinwar's purported assassination could impact the international efforts to end the war.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Israeli leaders have also been hesitant to agree to end the conflict, though it's unclear if Sinwar's death would lead them to be more willing to such a deal.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.