Israeli forces have killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza and the architect of the deadly October 7 attacks on Israel. Sinwar, who had led the group’s military operations since 2017, was killed on October 17, 2024, during an operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, marking a significant moment in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Sinwar was found by Israeli soldiers after being tracked to a residential area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that he was carrying a firearm, a vest, and cash when they confronted him. His identity was confirmed through dental records and fingerprints from his years in Israeli custody. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the operation as “the beginning of the end” for Hamas, though he cautioned that the conflict was far from over.
Sinwar was widely seen as the mastermind behind the October 7 attack, in which Hamas gunmen killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took more than 250 hostages. Israel has since intensified military operations in Gaza with the stated goal of dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages still held by the group.
Addressing the residents of Gaza, Netanyahu urged them to rise against Hamas, describing the group’s leadership as having “destroyed their lives.” He reiterated that Israel’s operations would continue until all hostages are returned and Hamas’s control is dismantled.
The killing of Sinwar follows the earlier death of Ismail Haniyeh, another senior Hamas leader, in July. Hamas has not yet announced who will succeed Sinwar, leaving uncertainty about the group’s future leadership. Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, praised Sinwar as a martyr, calling his death a source of inspiration for future resistance.
Global leaders responded to the development with mixed reactions. U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated Netanyahu, calling it “a good day for Israel, the U.S., and the world.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the news, emphasizing that “the mastermind behind the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust” had been eliminated. Leaders from the EU, including French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighted the need for both an immediate release of hostages and steps toward ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s military operations began. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are displaced, and access to food, water, and medical aid remains severely limited.
As the conflict rages on, calls for a ceasefire are growing louder. European leaders urged a new phase of diplomacy and reconstruction, with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressing that “the suffering on both sides must end.” However, Netanyahu has made it clear that military operations will persist until Hamas is neutralized.
While Sinwar’s death is a symbolic victory for Israel, it raises new questions about the conflict’s trajectory and the fate of the remaining hostages. Both sides remain entrenched, and hopes for peace appear distant amid ongoing violence and deepening humanitarian concerns.
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