Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, architect of the cross-border incursion of the group in 2023, which became the deadliest day in Israel's history, was killed in combat, Khalil al-Haya, Hamas's deputy chief in Gaza and the group's chief negotiator, was quoted by Reuters as saying on Friday.
Sinwar's death, which follows the elimination of other Hamas leaders and commanders, will deal a huge blow to the Islamist group, which faces Israel's decisive military response in the Gaza Strip.
Sinwar was named the group's leader on August 6, succeeding former political chief Ismail Haniya, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31.
Born in a refugee camp in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Sinwar, 62, was elected Hamas leader in the enclave in 2017.
The controversial leader, who has spent half his life in Israeli prisons, was the most powerful Hamas leader left alive after Haniya's assassination.
According to unconfirmed information from Arab and Islamic media, Khaled Meshal has taken over the leadership of the Palestinian group "Hamas". Meshal was in charge of communications with key stakeholders involved in the negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, Lebanese television reported.