Israeli forces have reportedly killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a significant military operation in Gaza.
Sinwar, who masterminded the 7 October attack on Israel, was among three militants killed in the southern city of Rafah, according to unnamed Israeli officials.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Sinwar as a “terrorist” and the “architect of the atrocities” committed during the deadly attack on Israel, which claimed over 1,200 lives and led to the abduction of more than 250 hostages.
Albanese added, “His death is a significant moment and can be a vital turning point in this devastating conflict.”
Peter Dutton MP, the Leader of the Opposition, stated that “the world is a safer place without evil terrorists like Yahya Sinwar.”
Dutton expressed his contempt for Sinwar’s actions, highlighting the 7th of October atrocity as evidence of his equal disdain for both Israelis and his own people, whom he allegedly used as human shields while keeping them impoverished to further his own distorted worldview.
Further, Dutton called for the immediate release of hostages, asserting that marking Sinwar’s death would be a significant victory for both the Middle East and the world.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Sinwar’s death, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed as the “beginning of the end” of the conflict.
Netanyahu stated that “today we have settled the score,” while cautioning that the war is far from over and that Israel will continue efforts to bring hostages home.
The IDF had been searching for Sinwar for months, but reports suggest his death occurred during a chance encounter when troops engaged militants in a damaged building.
The world is “now a better place” without Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi said.
US President Joe Biden welcomed the news, calling it a “good day for the world,” while world leaders urged renewed efforts for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian support for Gaza.
Sinwar’s death is seen as a significant blow to Hamas, though its impact on the ongoing conflict remains uncertain.
Hezbollah has also declared a “new and escalating phase” in its conflict with Israel, claiming responsibility for the deaths of 55 Israeli soldiers and injuries to 500 since the beginning of Israel’s ground operations in Lebanon. The group made this announcement on Telegram but did not mention the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces in Gaza.
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