President Biden and members of Congress praised Israel after hearing the news that the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attack on the Jewish state has been killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised message that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been removed by Israeli forces and found in rubble in the Gaza Strip.
“I stand before you today to announce that Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated,” he said. “He said he was a lion, but he was actually hiding in a dark den and was killed when he panicked and fled from our soldiers.”
Biden congratulated Israel on the killing, saying it was “a good day for Israel, a good day for America and a good day for the world.”
Who is Yahya Sinwar?
Yahya Sinwar chairs a meeting with Palestinian faction leaders at his office in Gaza City on April 13, 2022. (AP)
“Israel had every right to remove the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas can no longer repeat October 7,” he said in a statement.
Vice President Kamala Harris said “justice has been served.”
“And the United States, Israel, and the whole world are better off as a result. Sinwar is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent people, including the victims of October 7th and the hostages killed in Gaza.” ” she added. “He had American blood on his hands.”
Many MPs reacted positively to the news of Shinwar's death.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, R-New York, said Mr. Sinwar has a lot of Israeli and Gazan blood on his hands.
“May his death serve as a message to all those who seek to terrorize Israel and the Jewish people,” Schumer said. “Mr. Shinwar's beliefs and actions have caused tremendous suffering to the Israeli and Palestinian people, and I am urgently and immediately taking all hostages, including the seven Americans, by removing Mr. Shinwar from the scene.” I pray that a path will be opened for them to return home.”
Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as mastermind of October 7 attacks as new leader
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is depicted on a poster in Palestine Square in Tehran on August 13, 2024. (Fateme Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Yahya Sinwar's death has made Israel, the Middle East, and the free world a safer place. Terrorism will never win,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Mr. Sinwar's death should serve as a warning to Iran and its regional proxies.
“Israel decapitated the senior leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel has proven what strong action against global terrorism should look like, and the world is a safer place.” he said. “Every time the Biden-Harris administration attempts to attach conditions to Israeli self-defense, it weakens the Israeli and American response to terrorism.”
Yahya Sinwar appeared at a memorial ceremony for fighters killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on May 24, 2021. (Laurent van der Stockt/Getty Images)
He added: “The only way to end this war is for Israel to win and Iran's terrorist proxies to be defeated. Israel's removal of the masterminds of this war represents a new and important step toward eliminating these threats.'' “It's a step forward,” he added.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) said Israel had dealt a “powerful blow” to Hamas and Iran.
“The ultimate revenge against Iran and its terrorist proxies is to replace terror and hatred with sustainable security, peace and prosperity in the region.”
Israel searches for Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Shinwar: 'A dead man walking'
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Helj Halevi speaks with troops at the scene where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed. (Israel Defense Forces)
“Terrorists have no place in this world and must be eliminated,” said Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
He added: “Unless we eliminate Hamas as a military organization, we cannot move forward in this region.” “It's not easy to do this, but the Israelis are doing it. There's no denying that. The United States and its allies should do more to help the Israelis continue to cut off the head of the snake.” And we should definitely stop trying to infiltrate the Israelis.'' Israel's success will be a victory for the free world. ”
Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said justice had been served, but added that “the terrorist network he leads continues to hold dozens of hostages in Gaza.” 'We must continue to seek their safe return.' ”
IDF Chief of Staff Helj Halevi has left and Shin Bet leader Ronen Bahr will assess the situation on Thursday, October 17th. (IDF)
Israel vowed to kill Shinwar after a military operation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces conducted DNA tests on the bodies of the three terrorists killed during the battle and confirmed Shinwar's death.
In July, Mr. Sinwar was elevated to Hamas's supreme leader after his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an attack believed to be carried out by Israel in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
A demonstrator holds a placard about the murder of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a protest demanding a cease-fire agreement and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, October 17. (AP/Ariel Shalit)
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Israel has killed top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group based in neighboring Lebanon. Hezbollah has been shelling the northern part of the Jewish state for more than a year in solidarity with Hamas.
