Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden on Thursday expressed hope that the killing of the Hamas ringleader behind the October 7 attack on Israel could be the catalyst for an end to the war in Gaza. Hamas leader Yahya Shinwar was killed by Israeli IDF soldiers on Wednesday, just one year after leading a Hamas attack on Israel that left some 1,200 dead and many hostages. Shinwar was Israel's most wanted man.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Today, the mastermind behind this day of pure evil is no more.'' said In an address to the nation.
“This is not the end of the war in Gaza, but it is the beginning of the end,” Netanyahu added. “To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message: This war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns the hostages. Hamas has 101 hostages in Gaza. The hostages are nationals of 23 countries.''We will do everything in our power to bring home not only Israeli citizens, but also nationals of many other countries, and Israel will continue to do everything in its power to bring back all the hostages.'' It will ensure everyone's safety. ”
“The axis of terror built by Iran is crumbling before our eyes,” he added, before listing terrorist leaders who have died in recent days and months.
“Nasrallah is gone. His deputy Mohsen is gone. Haniya is gone. Deif is gone. Sinwar is gone,” he said. “The reign of terror that the Iranian regime has imposed on its own people and on the peoples of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen must come to an end.”
He said that if the region works together, “we can push back against the forces of darkness and build a future of light and hope for all of us.”
“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza,” he said.
Biden said Sinwar was “responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens of more than 30 countries.”
“Hamas terrorists deliberately invaded Israel and murdered civilians, Holocaust survivors, children in front of their parents, parents in front of their children, with unspeakable brutality,” Biden said. “The massacre was ordered by the president.”
Biden compared the killing to the day Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, was killed.
“There is now an opportunity for a political solution that provides a ‘next day’ for Gaza and a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians, when Hamas is no longer in power,” Biden said. “Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all these goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But many challenges remain before us.”
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michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
