In a significant development, Israel announced on Thursday that it had killed Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas leader, and the mastermind behind the October 7 attack last year, which initiated one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Sinwar’s death marks a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict, striking a significant blow to the Palestinian militant organization and symbolizing a victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday by troops from its southern command in southern Gaza, although they did not provide further specifics. Hamas has not yet confirmed the death of Sinwar.
Prime Minister Netanyahu praised Sinwar’s death as a triumph of “good over evil” and described it as the “beginning of the end” of Hamas’s rule in Gaza. He further stated that militants holding Israeli hostages in Gaza now have a chance to release them and be spared.
U.S. President Joe Biden commented that Sinwar’s death had brought a “good day” for Israel, suggesting an opportunity for a new beginning in Gaza without Hamas. Describing Sinwar as an “insurmountable obstacle,” Biden expressed optimism about a potential political settlement that could ensure a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians. He also mentioned plans to speak with Netanyahu about bringing hostages back to their families and concluding the ongoing war.
Diplomatic efforts have commenced with discussions about a temporary “pause” in Israel’s military operations in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. This deal would potentially include safety guarantees for Hamas fighters who release hostages and a resumption of diplomatic discussions in Cairo aimed at concluding the conflict.
Israeli negotiators are reportedly engaged in urgent deliberations on leveraging Sinwar’s death to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. The Israeli offensive, initiated in response to Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, aimed to neutralize Sinwar. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Despite extensive military efforts over the past year, Sinwar had evaded capture, believed to be hiding within Hamas’s elaborate tunnel network. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 42,000 deaths, as stated by Palestinian officials, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this year, Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas following the death of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli explosion in Tehran in July. The 61-year-old, also known as Abu Ibrahim, is credited with orchestrating Hamas’s attack last October alongside Mohammed Deif, the chief of the Qassam Brigades.
Israeli officials had previously declared their determination to apprehend Sinwar, describing him as a “dead man walking.” On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that Sinwar’s death sent a “clear message” to Israel’s adversaries that the IDF would pursue anyone threatening Israeli citizens or security forces.
Sinwar, originally from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, was instrumental in establishing the Qassam Brigades in the 1980s. He was imprisoned in Israel for nearly two decades before being released in a 2011 swap deal. Upon returning to Gaza, he quickly advanced through Hamas’s ranks to become a key figure bridging its political and military factions and eventually leading the entire territory.
In the aftermath of Sinwar’s death, opinions within Gaza are divided. Some residents attribute the ongoing conflict to his actions, while many remain indifferent to his demise, perceiving him as another martyr among the thousands lost in the conflict.