Israel claimed its forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in an attack in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed Mr. Sinwar’s death on Thursday, but Hamas has not yet commented on the claim.
An Israeli military statement said Sinwar was killed on Wednesday after soldiers “eliminate three combatants.”
In August, Hamas appointed Gaza Strip leader Shinwar to replace Ismail Haniyeh as its political director. Haniya was assassinated on July 31st while visiting Iran.
Here are reactions to Sinwar’s death, starting with those closest to the situation.
Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that while Israel had achieved “reckoning” with Shinwar, “the war is not over yet.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in televised remarks that “light outweighs darkness” in the region and that Shinwar’s death was “an important marker” of the group’s decline.
Hamas will no longer rule Gaza, he said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Israel Katz called Sinwar’s killing “a military and moral achievement of the Israeli army,” while Israeli National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz congratulated the Israeli army.
“This is an important achievement with a clear message: We will pursue our enemies to the end, anytime and anywhere,” Gantz said on social platform X.
He said Israeli forces “will continue to operate in the Gaza Strip for years to come and are now using the successive gains and removal of Shinwar to push for the return of the abductees and the replacement of Hamas rule.” We have to make it happen.” ”
Israeli POW family
The Israeli campaign group Hostage and Missing Families Forum welcomed the Israeli military’s statement, saying Sinwar’s death should help “ensure” the release of the remaining prisoners in Gaza.
“We welcome the removal of Yahya Sinwar and urge you to use this significant achievement to secure the return of the hostages,” the forum said in a statement.
US
US President Joe Biden said Mr Sinwar’s death was a moment of relief for Israelis and an opportunity to live out “the next day” in Gaza without the group in power.
“Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of these goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us,” Biden said. said in a statement.
“I will soon speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them and discuss a path forward to bring the hostages home to their families and end once and for all this war that has caused so much harm to innocent people. We’re going to talk about it,”’ Biden said.
Vice President Kamala Harris praised Shinwar’s death, calling it an opportunity to “finally end the war in Gaza.”
“Justice has been served,” Harris told reporters. “Sinwar was responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent people, including the October 7 victims and hostages killed in Gaza.”
“Today, I can only hope that the families of Hamas victims feel a sense of relief and some sense of relief,” she added.
US House of Representatives Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, Israel’s top military and diplomatic ally, also praised Israel’s claim that Mr Sinwar was killed, saying his death brought “relief” to the Israeli people. .
“Sinwar’s life was the embodiment of evil and marked by hatred for all that is good in the world,” Mike Johnson said in a statement. “His death brought hope to all who seek to live in freedom and comfort to the Israelites whom he sought to oppress.”
U.S. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sinwar’s “beliefs and actions have caused tremendous pain to the Israeli and Palestinian people.”
“I am confident that his removal from the scene will pave the way for the urgent and immediate return of all hostages, including the seven Americans, to ensure the safety of the Israeli people and provide full humanitarian relief and security. We hope that this will lead to negotiations to end the hostilities and open a new path for the people of Gaza.”
Germany
In a statement, German Foreign Minister Annalena Verbock denounced Sinwar as a “brutal murderer and terrorist.”
He said Hamas should “immediately release all hostages” taken in the October 7 attack on Israel and “lay down their weapons.”
France
After Israel announced it had killed Shinwar, President Emmanuel Macron called for the release of “all hostages” held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“Yahiya Sinwar is primarily responsible for the October 7th terrorist attack and barbarism,” President Macron wrote on X, adding, “France demands the release of all hostages held by Hamas.” said.
NATO
NATO chief Mark Rutte mentioned Sinwar at a press conference in Brussels, saying: “If he were to die, I personally would not miss him.”
Italy
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: “It appears that a military leader of Hamas was killed and in this light we believe that Israel may have acted in self-defense against Hamas terrorists.”
He added: “We hope that the disappearance of the Hamas leader will lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.”
England
British Defense Secretary John Healy said: “For me personally, I will not mourn the death of a terrorist leader like Sinwar, who was responsible for the October 7th attack.”
He said last year’s Israeli attacks on southern Israel “not only ushered in the darkest and worst day for the Jewish people since World War II, but also marked the beginning of more than a year of conflict and unacceptable levels of civilian Palestinian casualties.” It was also caused by the person.”
