Hamas Leader Behind October 7 Attack Confirmed Dead
[guest post by Dana]
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds of the October 7 massacre in Israel, has been killed, according to the Israeli military.
“This is the beginning of the day after Hamas,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, while calling on those holding Israelis captive in Gaza to lay down their weapons and return the hostages, pledging whoever does so will be allowed to “go out and live.”
Sinwar’s body was spotted in the rubble of a building struck by an Israeli tank in Gaza, according to a radio station run by Israel’s military. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Sinwar was “eliminated” after Israeli officials ran DNA tests and used dental records to confirm his identity.
Reportedly, there are conflicting views regarding how this will impact the hostages. Some officials say that Sinwar’s death will open up negotiations for the release of hostages while others are saying this will likely complicate, well, everything. There is also the suggestion that Sinwar’s brother may fill Sinwar’s shoes, with regard to Hamas.
President Biden’s reaction to the news:
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
As for Gazans’ reaction to the news of Sinwar’s death, here is a sample. I think we can reasonably assume that the individual speaks for many, many Gazans:
”He humiliated us, started the war, scattered us and made us displaced without water, food, or money,” Mohammed said, speaking on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisals from Hamas members. “He is the one who made Israel so this.”
—Dana