Hamas leader Sinwar’s death may be a turning point for the war in Gaza
Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death is "the beginning of the end in Gaza" – but it is unclear whether the killing will bring an escalation in the fighting or a ceasefire deal.
Hailing the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a video statement released Thursday night, Binyamin Netanyahu said the “elimination” of one of the masterminds of the October 7, 2023 attacks did not yet spell the end of the war for the people of Gaza.
“It’s the beginning of the end,” said the Israeli prime minister.
US President Joe Biden meanwhile said he hoped Sinwar’s killing would help secure a truce he has long called for, but been unable to achieve.
"Now is the time to move on ... toward a ceasefire in Gaza," Biden said Thursday from Germany.
The violent demise of the once-powerful Hamas leader on Wednesday revived hopes for an end to the war that has killed more than 42,000 Gazans while the whereabouts of 101 Israeli hostages captured last October remains unknown.
Many observers say that while immediate peace is elusive, Sinwar’s elimination could provide off-ramps for both Hamas and the Israeli government.
The death of a militant
Drone footage released by the IDF shows a solitary and seriously wounded man trying to weakly swat away a drone filming him. The man was Sinwar. His body was found in the rubble after the Israelis destroyed the part of the building where he and the other militants had taken cover.
“We know that Hamas today is severely weakened,” he said.
The window of opportunity for both sides will be closing.
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