Hamas politburo chief Yahya Sinwar has been killed in Gaza, Israel’s government and the country’s army have confirmed.”After completing the process of identifying the body, it can be confirmed that Yahya Sinwar was eliminated,” the Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday. Israel has confirmed the death of Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas’ politburo, after identifying his body. The Israeli military stated that Sinwar was eliminated following a strike in Gaza, which targeted three Palestinian resistance fighters. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed that Sinwar’s death could lead to the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas.
This confirmation came after Israeli broadcasters KAN and N12 News reported that Sinwar had been killed, although Hamas has not yet officially confirmed his death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the conflict in Gaza is not over, urging Hamas to release the hostages. Sinwar became the leader of Hamas after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and was accused by Israel of orchestrating the October 7 cross-border attack last year, which triggered a massive military response from Israel.
The ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of over 45,000 people in Gaza, with the region suffering from widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. Israeli authorities stated that no hostages were found in the building where Sinwar and the others were killed.
Western leaders responded swiftly to the news. U.S. President Joe Biden called Sinwar’s death a positive development, suggesting it could pave the way for a ceasefire and a prisoner swap. Vice President Kamala Harris echoed this sentiment, seeing the event as a potential turning point for ending the war. The U.S. State Department announced plans to push for negotiations toward a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Other Western leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s foreign minister, also called for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and urged the group to lay down their arms.
Meanwhile, the families of hostages expressed concern about their loved ones’ safety in light of Sinwar’s death. As of now, 117 hostages have been returned alive, but 101 remain in Gaza. Some relatives fear that Sinwar’s killing may complicate efforts to secure their release. In Tel Aviv, protests by families and supporters of hostages have continued, with many expressing deep concern for the captives’ well-being.
