A drone donated by a New Jersey Jewish community was instrumental in the operation that led to the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in October. Chaim Meisels, an American IDF reservist, revealed that the DJI Mavic drone equipped with thermal imaging helped identify Sinwar and a group of militants in Gaza, enabling Israeli forces to target them.

Meisels, who flew to Israel immediately after the October 7 attacks, credited the generous donations from American Jews for providing essential equipment to his unit. A second drone, donated by a London supporter, captured Sinwar’s final moments, showing him throwing an object at the device before being neutralized. The operation highlights the critical role civilian donations have played in bolstering Israel’s defenses during the ongoing war.