President Joe Biden has confirmed the death of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook account. Sinwar was killed in a mission conducted by Israeli forces in Gaza, and DNA tests have confirmed his identity.
President Biden hailed the news, calling it “a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.”
As the leader of Hamas, Sinwar had been one of the most wanted figures in the world, responsible for orchestrating numerous attacks that led to the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries. Most recently, he was behind the October 7 massacre, which Biden described as one of the deadliest days for Jews since the Holocaust.
On that day, over 1,200 people were killed, including 46 Americans, while 250 individuals were taken hostage, of whom 101 are still missing. Biden emphasized Sinwar’s role as the mastermind of this brutal attack, stating, “It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally – and with unspeakable savagery – kill and massacre civilians.”
Biden revealed that shortly after the October 7 atrocities, he directed U.S. Special Operations personnel and intelligence professionals to work closely with Israeli forces to track down Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza. The combined intelligence efforts helped the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pursue the leaders of Hamas, forcing them to flee from their hiding places in Gaza’s extensive underground tunnel network. “There has rarely been a military campaign like this,” Biden said, describing how the Hamas leadership had entrenched themselves in miles of underground tunnels, ignoring the suffering of civilians above ground.
The President drew a parallel between Sinwar’s death and the 2011 operation that led to the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, likening the moment to a day of “relief and reminiscence” for Israelis, much like the U.S. felt after bin Laden’s death. Biden also made it clear that Israel had every right to take action against Hamas and eliminate its leadership and military structure. He remarked that Hamas is no longer capable of executing another attack like that of October 7.
Looking forward, Biden expressed hope for a future in Gaza without Hamas in power. He spoke of a possible political settlement that could bring peace and stability to both Israelis and Palestinians, with the removal of Sinwar being a crucial step toward that goal. However, he cautioned that much work remains, stating, “There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power… But much work remains before us.”
Biden also said he would be speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders to discuss the next steps, particularly focusing on efforts to bring hostages home and to find an end to the war, which has caused so much devastation.