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The Israeli military on Thursday confirmed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who Israel has accused of masterminding the October 7 attack last year that precipitated the war in Gaza. Sinwar was reportedly killed in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said the Gaza war had not ended with the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, while calling on militants to free hostages.
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“The war… is not over yet. And it is difficult, and it exacts heavy prices from us,” Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding in a message to Palestinians in Gaza: “Whoever lays down his weapon and returns our hostages—we will allow him to go on living.”
UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Thursday warned Israel that any “large-scale forcible transfer” of civilians out of conflict-wracked north Gaza could constitute a war crime if not done on “imperative military grounds.”
“Israel’s evacuation orders appear designed to cut off North Gaza completely from the rest of the territory,” Turk told a press conference at UN headquarters in New York.
“As bombing and other attacks continue, there are serious concerns about a large-scale forcible transfer of civilians not meeting the requirements of international law for evacuation on imperative military grounds,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Thursday the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar offered the chance of peace in the Middle East but warned that the war in Gaza was not over and Israel would continue until its hostages were returned.
“Today we have settled the score. Today evil has been dealt a blow but our task has still not been completed,” Netanyahu said in a recorded video statement. “To the dear hostage families, I say: this is an important moment in the war. We will continue full force until all your loved ones, our loved ones, are home.”
Israeli campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Thursday welcomed the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, saying his death should help “secure” the release of captives still in Gaza.
The Forum “welcomes Yahya Sinwar’s elimination and urges leveraging this major achievement to secure hostages’ return,” it said in a statement.
Germany’s foreign minister on Thursday urged Hamas to release all its hostages and lay down its weapons after Israel said it had killed the militant group’s leader Yahya Sinwar.
Foreign minister Annalena Baerbock in a statement branded Sinwar “a cruel murderer and a terrorist”. She said Hamas should “immediately release all the hostages” it seized during its October 7 attack on Israel “and lay down its arms”.
