Israel announced on Thursday the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attack, describing his death as a significant blow to the Palestinian group it has been battling for over a year.
The Israeli military reported that after a year-long pursuit, troops “eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization,” in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Hamas has yet to confirm his death.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked, “Today evil has suffered a heavy blow,” while acknowledging that the war was “not over yet.” He characterized Sinwar’s death as an important milestone in the decline of Hamas’s influence.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned Sinwar as a “mass murderer” responsible for the October 7 atrocities, while President Isaac Herzog praised the killing of a leader behind numerous terrorist acts.
Sinwar, accused of orchestrating the deadliest attack in Israeli history, had been a target since the onset of the Gaza war.
He rose through the ranks of Hamas to become its leader in Gaza and later its overall head following the death of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in July.
Israel’s announcement of Sinwar’s death follows weeks after the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a significant strike in Lebanon. Numerous Iran-backed militant commanders have also been killed recently.
With Hamas significantly weakened more than a year into the Gaza war, Sinwar’s death could deal a major blow to the organization.
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U.S. President Joe Biden described it as a positive development for Israel and the world, suggesting it opens the door for a political resolution that could benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.
Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi stated they were settling the score with Sinwar, vowing to continue fighting until all those involved in the October 7 massacre were captured and all hostages brought home.
Katz added that Sinwar’s death might lead to a new reality in Gaza without Hamas in power.
The Israeli military confirmed it was verifying whether Sinwar was among three militants killed in the operation, including a DNA test.
Since the October 7 attack, which killed 1,206 people, primarily civilians, Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 42,438 people, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run health ministry data.
Netanyahu had pledged to eradicate Hamas and recover all 251 hostages taken during the cross-border assault, with 97 still believed to be in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by Israeli officials.
Military historian Guy Aviad noted that while Sinwar’s killing was significant, it does not mark the end of the conflict in Gaza or Lebanon. He warned that Hamas still governs the Gaza Strip and could threaten Israeli hostages.
Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government and international mediators to use this development to negotiate the return of hostages.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Hamas to release all hostages.
In a video statement, Netanyahu also urged Palestinian militants to release hostages, stating, “Whoever lays down his weapon and returns our hostages — we will allow him to go on living.”
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