Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killed in Israeli Strike, Says Israel
Israel has claimed responsibility for the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in an attack in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military announced Sinwar’s death on Thursday, but Hamas has yet to comment on the claim, Al Jazeera reports.
According to the Israeli military statement, Sinwar was killed on Wednesday after soldiers “eliminated three fighters.” Sinwar, who was appointed as Hamas’s political bureau head in August, was considered a key figure in the group’s leadership.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the killing as an “important landmark” in the decline of Hamas, claiming that the group will no longer rule Gaza. Netanyahu said that Israel has “settled its account” with Sinwar but that the “war is not yet ended.”
The Israeli military operation has drawn widespread reactions from international leaders.
United States: President Joe Biden expressed relief for Israelis, calling Sinwar an “insurmountable obstacle” to achieving peace. He said the killing opens a path for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power and announced plans to discuss next steps with Israeli leaders. Vice President Kamala Harris hailed Sinwar’s death as a chance to “finally end the war in Gaza,” calling him responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people.
European Union: Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, described Sinwar as an “obstacle to an urgently needed ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.” He condemned Sinwar as a “terrorist” responsible for the October 7 attacks.
Other World Leaders: Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom all expressed relief over Sinwar’s death and called for the release of all hostages.
Hamas and Iran: Hamas has remained silent on the claim of Sinwar’s death, while Iran’s mission to the UN praised Sinwar as a “model for resistance.”
Families of Israeli Captives: The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli campaign group, welcomed the news and urged the Israeli government to leverage this “major achievement” to secure the release of captives held in Gaza.
