The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released a statement saying Sinwar was killed by its troops in an operation in the south of Gaza yesterday after a "year-long pursuit".

It comes after Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz told his counterparts around the world that Sinwar was killed today. The reason for the discrepancy is not clear.

In a statement, the IDF says Sinwar planned and executed the 7 October attack and was "responsible for the murder and abduction of many Israelis".

"Yahya Sinwar was eliminated after hiding for the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip," it says.

The Israeli military says it has been operating in southern Gaza following intelligence "that indicated the suspected locations of senior members of Hamas".

IDF soldiers from the 828th Brigade operating in the area "identified and eliminated three terrorists", it says, adding an identification process confirmed one of those killed was Sinwar.