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Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza, the Israeli military confirmed on October 17, 2024. Sinwar was believed to be the mastermind of last year’s attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war. Hamas did not immediately confirm his death.

Israel’s foreign minister has confirmed that Israeli troops in Gaza have killed Hamas’ top leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war.

Foreign Minister Katz confirmed the killing and called Sinwar’s killing a “military and moral achievement for the Israeli army.” Katz said in a statement “The assassination of Sinwar will create the possibility to immediately release the hostages and to bring a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza – without Hamas and without Iranian control.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Sinwar was killed yesterday during an operation in the southern part of the Gaza Strip after what it described as a “year-long pursuit.” The operation targeted senior members of Hamas hiding in the city of Rafah, where the Israeli military claimed that its troops from the 828th Brigade, identified and eliminated three militants. Among them was 61-year-old Sinwar, seen by Israel as the main figure responsible for orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack.

Sinwar’s body was spotted in the rubble of a building struck by an Israeli tank in Gaza, according to Israeli media reports. The Israeli military confirmed Sinwar was “eliminated” after conducting DNA tests and using dental records to confirm his identity.

“Yahya Sinwar was eliminated after hiding for the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF’s statement read. Israeli authorities had been pursuing Sinwar following the attack that triggered the latest Gaza war and further strained an already volatile region.

Netanyahu says Israel has ‘settled its account’ with Sinwar

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has “settled its account” with “the person who carried out the worst massacre in the history of our people since the Holocaust.” Yahya Sinwar’s death was the “beginning of the day after Hamas,” he said, adding that “our war has not yet ended.” Addressing the families of the hostages, he said it was an “important moment in the war” to bring home the hostages.

In a separate statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Katz hailed the operation as a critical blow to the militant group. “Mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, who was responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was killed today by IDF soldiers,” Katz said.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sinwar’s killing sends “a clear message to the residents of Gaza. The man who brought disaster and death to the Gaza strip, the man who made you suffer as a result of his murderous actions — the end of this man has come.”

Sinwar’s death is a major blow to the Hamas group and a major victory for the Israeli military. In Israel, it is seen as a pivotal moment in Israel’s year-long war in Gaza during which its military has been engaged in a relentless campaign of airstrikes and ground operations against Hamas.

There is much discrepancy in the timing of Sinwar’s reported death, with Katz stating that the Hamas leader was killed today, while the IDF indicated that the operation took place yesterday. Meanwhile, there has been no immediate comment from Hamas on the death of its leader.

World reacts to Hamas leader Sinwar’s killing

Western leaders, particularly the U.S. were quick to share their official statements on the killing of Sinwar. The following are some of the statements from the world leaders.

United States — U.S. President Joe Biden says Sinwar’s death is a “good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” comparing it to the feeling in the U.S. after the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Biden said he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them “and to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all.”

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is dead.

This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.

Here’s my full statement. pic.twitter.com/cSe1czhd9s

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2024

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said the killing of Hamas’ top leader by Israel “gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza.” She said: “It is time for the day after to begin.” Speaking from a Wisconsin college campus where she was campaigning, Harris said the war “must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”

France — President Emmanuel Macron called for the release of “all hostages” held by Hamas in Gaza after Israel said it had killed Sinwar. “Yahya Sinwar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of October 7,” Macron posted on X. “France demands the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.”

Germany — Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in a statement, branded Sinwar “a cruel murderer and a terrorist.” She said Hamas should “immediately release all the hostages” it seized during its October 7 attack on Israel “and lay down its arms.”

NATO — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said at a press conference in Brussels that Sinwar “is widely recognized as the architect of the Oct. 7th, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel. I have condemned them, all allies have condemned them. So if he has died, I personally will not miss him.”

Italy — Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: “It seems that the military leader of Hamas has been killed and I believe that from this point of view Israel may have carried out its self-defence against the Hamas terrorists.” He added: “I hope that the disappearance of the Hamas leader will lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Israeli protestors call for hostages to be released

Hundreds of Israelis demonstrating in Tel Aviv called for the release of hostages being held in Gaza after the news of Sinwar’s killing broke. “Bring them all back – now!” the protesters chanted. Some others carried signs saying, “Sinwar’s end, end the war.”

Hamas militants kidnapped approximately 250 Israelis and killed 1,200 during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Many were released in a ceasefire deal last November, but about 100 remain inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.

What does Sinwar’s death mean for the war?

Sinwar’s demise could dramatically affect both the ongoing hostilities and efforts to secure a ceasefire. His role as the leader of Hamas and the architect of numerous operations, including the October 7 attack, has made him a key figure in the conflict. Israeli families of hostages held by Hamas expressed hope that Sinwar’s death could pave the way for a ceasefire and the return of the captives. However, in Gaza, where the war has left tens of thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more, residents expressed fears that the conflict would continue unabated.

It remains unclear who will replace Sinwar as the head of Hamas and what that might mean for the cease-fire efforts.

Who is Yahya Sinwar?

Yahya Sinwar’s journey to becoming Hamas’ top leader in Gaza was marked by his strategic influence within the group. Born in 1962 in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza, Sinwar was an early member of Hamas after its formation in 1987. He rose through the ranks of the organization, particularly for his role in purging suspected Israeli informants from Hamas ranks.

In the late 1980s, Israel arrested Sinwar and sentenced him to four life terms for his role in killing Israeli soldiers. He spent 22 years in prison, where he solidified his position as a prison leader. During his stay in prison, Sinwar organized strikes to improve prison conditions and even learned Hebrew to better understand Israeli society.

In 2011, Sinwar was released as part of a prisoner exchange deal brokered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a move that some critics say later backfired, as Sinwar quickly rose to power within Hamas upon his return to Gaza.

Following the assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024, Sinwar was elevated to the group’s overall leader. Under his leadership, Hamas aligned more closely with Iran and bolstered its military capabilities.

The killing of Yahya Sinwar marks a major success for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose administration has been under intense pressure to dismantle Hamas following the October 2023 attack. Sinwar’s death could bring Israel closer to achieving its goal of weakening Hamas, but it could also escalate tensions in the region, with the possibility of wider conflict.

Israeli operations in Gaza, which have killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, are likely to continue for the foreseeable future as Netanyahu pursues his stated goal of “dismantling Hamas’ military infrastructure”. Meanwhile, civilians in Gaza continue to bear the brunt of the war, with devastating casualties and widespread humanitarian crises.