Sinwar's death: A potential turning point in Israel-Hamas conflict
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed on Wednesday in a shootout with Israeli soldiers in the south of the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson for the armed forces, Daniel Hagari, reported on Thursday evening.
Israeli soldiers were combing the area around the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp near the city of Rafah, after receiving intelligence that senior Hamas commanders were hiding there. The soldiers spotted three militants moving between buildings and opened fire, resulting in a shootout. Sinwar took cover in the ruins of one of the houses, according to the army.
"He tried to escape and our forces eliminated him," Hagari added. The Israeli army also released footage from a drone that located Sinwar. It shows a masked, injured man attempting to knock the drone out of the sky by throwing a long object at it. Media reports indicate that a tank also targeted the building.
The media reported that Sinwar's identity was confirmed through dental and DNA tests based on records compiled when he was imprisoned in an Israeli jail.
The world reacts to Sinwar's death
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin commented on the elimination of the Hamas leader, stating that it was a significant achievement that could provide a remarkable opportunity to end "this terrible war" between Israel and Hamas.
Austin remarked, "Sinwar's death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire, end this terrible war, allow Israelis to return safely to their homes in southern Israel, rush in far more humanitarian assistance to ease the misery in Gaza, and bring relief and hope to the Palestinians who have endured so much under Hamas's oppressive rule."
Meanwhile, the French newspaper "Le Figaro" is less optimistic about de-escalation in the Middle East. The newspaper described Sinwar's elimination as an "undeniable military victory" but noted that it does not eradicate the threat. According to the newspaper, Israel should consider a political solution for the Gaza Strip.
Le Figaro noted that reports indicated Sinwar was killed "almost by accident" rather than through a planned special forces mission. This, according to the newspaper, supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to maintain a ground force presence in Gaza despite facing pressure from the international community, opposition, hostage families, and even some high-ranking military officials.
