Israel Announces Killing of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
Analysts are drawing parallels between this event and the death of Osama bin Laden.
This report has been updated with additional details.
On Thursday, Israel confirmed that after an extensive year-long search, it has killed Yahya Sinwar, the military commander of Hamas, whom many consider the mastermind behind the militant organization’s attacks on October 7, 2023.
“We have settled the score today,” declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a recorded message, affirming his intention to continue military operations in Gaza until all Israeli hostages held by Hamas are freed.
The harrowing attacks on October 7 targeted regions across southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities, alongside another 251 individuals being abducted to Gaza. In retaliation, Israel initiated a war against Hamas, which has reportedly claimed the lives of over 42,000 Palestinians, based on figures from the Hamas-affiliated Gaza Health Ministry.
Hamas has yet to make any official statement. The news of Sinwar’s death coincided with Sukkot, a significant Jewish holiday that symbolizes renewal and gratitude.
The implications of Sinwar’s death for the ongoing conflict in Gaza remain uncertain, particularly regarding potential cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which are aimed at securing the release of hostages and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
At 61, Sinwar was at the top of Israel’s most-wanted list.
The IDF stated, “Yahya Sinwar orchestrated and executed the October 7 massacre, endorsed his lethal ideology before and during the conflict, and was accountable for the murder and abduction of many Israelis.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz remarked, “The removal of Sinwar creates a potential for the swift release of hostages and opens the door for a transformative change in Gaza.”
However, Anat Berko, a former IDF intelligence officer who has extensively interacted with militant groups, expressed uncertainty regarding how Sinwar’s demise will influence negotiations for a truce.
Sinwar: A Leader at the Center of Israel’s Wanted
“It’s undoubtedly a positive development that he’s removed from the equation,” Berko said. “To put it simply: ‘Is the absence of Osama bin Laden a negative thing? Of course not; it benefits the world.'”
She indicated that while Sinwar’s killing might fuel optimism for a potential cease-fire, she remains skeptical about that outcome. She noted that alternatives within Hamas’s ranks, such as his brother Mohammed, might still pose challenges and are likely still in Gaza.
“I believe Israel will discover there are no shortage of terrorists to negotiate with,” she suggested.
For years, Sinwar has been the prominent leader of Hamas in Gaza and took charge of the group’s political bureau following the assassination of the previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in July.
Biden Discusses Opportunities Following Sinwar’s Death
President Joe Biden stated in a written release that Israeli officials informed his national security team early Thursday morning about the operational success in Gaza that likely resulted in Sinwar’s death.
“DNA testing has confirmed that Sinwar is deceased. This is a significant day for Israel, the United States, and for global security,” Biden commented, identifying Sinwar as “the main architect” behind the October 7 violence and the subsequent warfare. He highlighted that U.S. intelligence had collaborated with Israeli forces to track down Sinwar.
Biden expressed his intention to speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials to explore methods for returning the hostages and culminating this conflict definitively.
He added, “There is potential for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in control, fostering a political resolution that can deliver a brighter future for both Israelis and Palestinians. Yahya Sinwar was a substantial barrier to achieving these aspirations. That barrier is now gone, yet there is considerable work still ahead.”
Sinwar’s Influence on Peace Efforts
Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the White House, indicated that Sinwar had played a significant role in obstructing peace in Gaza and thwarting efforts for a ceasefire and release of hostages.
Sullivan explained, “Sinwar was more focused on sowing chaos and destruction than on negotiating a ceasefire or a hostage exchange. He was often the primary obstacle in the path to resolving the ceasefire and hostage discussions.”
‘Justice has been served,’ according to VP Harris
“Justice has been served,” stated Vice President Kamala Harris,
During a campaign event in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Democratic presidential nominee stated, “The United States, Israel, and the world are in a better position because of this.”
The Vice President remarked that the death of Sinwar provides “an opportunity to finally bring an end to the war in Gaza,” supporting Biden’s call for a transition to a “post-Hamas” era.
Sinwar’s Notoriety for Brutality
Sinwar was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza in 1962 and has been credited with helping to create Hamas’ internal security agency, known as Majd. This agency is responsible for identifying and punishing presumed Palestinian collaborators with Israel.
In the late 1980s, Sinwar was apprehended by Israel for allegedly masterminding the murders of two Israeli soldiers and several Palestinians he claimed were collaborators. He received a sentence of four life terms and spent more time in prison than outside it until he was released in a 2011 exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas for five years.
A former Israeli security official, who wished to remain anonymous due to his ongoing military reserve duties, described how Sinwar’s brutality was evident through his actions.
According to the official, while incarcerated, Sinwar learned Hebrew, delved into Israeli history and military strategies, and extensively studied Israel’s political and security figures. He continued to seek out those he considered Palestinian informants, executing them and arranging for their bodies to be displayed at the prison entrance, visible to guards.
This was his way of conveying that “anyone who aids Israel will not survive,” the official explained.