Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza, Israel says

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza, Israel says

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza, Israel says

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the deadly October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, has been killed by Israeli forces after a year-long manhunt. His death is seen as a major victory for Israel and could potentially hasten an end to the war in Gaza, experts say, by creating a significant power vacuum within Hamas.


Harel Chorev, a senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, noted that Sinwar had become the central figure within Hamas after the deaths of other key leaders, like military chief Mohammed Deif. With Sinwar's demise, the decentralized nature of Hamas' leadership has been further weakened, leaving the group in disarray. Chorev emphasized that Israel and its allies should capitalize on this internal chaos to further destabilize Hamas.


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Sinwar’s death as marking “the beginning of the day after Hamas” and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to continuing its operations in Gaza until all hostages are freed. In a call with U.S. President Joe Biden, both leaders discussed the possibility of advancing hostage release efforts, while U.S. officials indicated a push for a ceasefire deal.


However, while Sinwar’s killing raises hopes for a breakthrough in Gaza, Israel’s broader regional approach remains complex. According to sources, potential Israeli retaliation against Iran and Hezbollah’s escalations in Lebanon are being treated as separate operations, with an Iranian response possibly imminent.