The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) said in a joint statement on Thursday that they are investigating whether one of the three militants killed by the army in the Gaza Strip is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The Israeli military said the identity of the militants cannot be confirmed at this stage.

"In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution," the joint statement said without providing further details.

Sinwar, the chief architect of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza conflict, was named Hamas' political bureau chief following the assassination of the group's former leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran in August.