Israel announced on Thursday that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 attack, has been killed, calling his death a significant setback for the Palestinian group it has been fighting for over a year.
The Israeli military stated that after a year-long pursuit, troops “eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization,” during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Hamas has not yet confirmed his death.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “Today evil has suffered a heavy blow,” while acknowledging that the conflict is “not over yet.” He described Sinwar’s death as an important milestone in diminishing Hamas’s power.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz labeled Sinwar a “mass murderer” responsible for the atrocities of October 7, while President Isaac Herzog praised the killing of a leader involved in numerous terrorist acts.
Sinwar was accused of orchestrating the deadliest attack in Israeli history and had been a target since the beginning of the Gaza war.
He rose through the ranks of Hamas to become its leader in Gaza and later its overall head after the death of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in July.
This announcement follows weeks after the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a major strike in Lebanon, and numerous Iran-backed militant leaders have also been killed recently.
With Hamas weakened more than a year into the Gaza war, Sinwar’s death could have a profound impact on the organization.
U.S. President Joe Biden referred to it as a positive development for Israel and the world, suggesting it creates an opportunity for a political resolution that benefits both Israelis and Palestinians.
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Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi stated they are settling the score with Sinwar, vowing to continue fighting until all those involved in the October 7 attack are captured and all hostages returned.
Katz noted that Sinwar’s death could lead to a new reality in Gaza without Hamas in control.
The Israeli military is currently verifying whether Sinwar was among three militants killed in the operation, including a DNA test.
Since the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has claimed 42,438 lives, according to the health ministry data from the Hamas-run territory.
Netanyahu had vowed to dismantle Hamas and recover all 251 hostages taken during the assault, with 97 believed to still be in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by Israeli officials.
Military historian Guy Aviad commented that while Sinwar’s killing is significant, it does not signify the end of the conflict in Gaza or Lebanon. He warned that Hamas continues to govern the Gaza Strip and that hostages remain in grave danger.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government and international mediators to leverage this development to secure the return of hostages.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock separately called on Hamas to release all hostages.
In a video statement, Netanyahu urged Palestinian militants to free the hostages, stating, “Whoever lays down his weapon and returns our hostages — we will allow him to go on living.”
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