Israel puts $400,000 bounty on head of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar

Israel has reportedly placed a bounty of $400,000 on the head of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The Israeli military dropped leaflets in the Gaza Strip offering cash rewards for information leading to the capture of Mr Sinwar and other commanders of the Palestinian militant group.

Mr Sinwar is believed to be behind the planning of the October 7 attack on Israel that led to the massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis.

Images of the pamphlets circulated on social media on Thursday but could not be independently verified.

They showed an Israeli military telephone number and a contact on the Telegram messaging app, accompanied by a promise to protect the identities of informants.

The Israeli army has dropped leaflets into Gaza several times during the war, instructing residents to move to safe areas.

Israel’s military has swept deep into the Palestinian enclave in a campaign to crush Hamas and eliminate its leadership.

While it says it has killed or captured thousands of Hamas fighters, the group’s top leaders are still at large.

The pamphlets also offer $300,000 for information on Mr Sinwar’s brother Muhammed, who commands the southern brigade, $200,000 for Rafaa Salameh, commander of the Khan Younis battalion, and $100,000 for Muhammad Deif, the commander of the group’s military wing.

Mr Deif has survived repeated assassination attempts.

A senior Biden administration official said on Thursday that the US would make sure justice is served.

“I think it’s safe to say his [Mr Sinwar’s] days are numbered,” the official said, during a call to discuss National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s trip to Israel and Palestine.