Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader responsible for the deadly October 7 attack on Israel, has been confirmed dead following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza. His death, after eluding capture for over a year, represents a significant victory for the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amidst ongoing conflicts in the region. Sinwar, who led Hamas since 2017, orchestrated an attack that resulted in nearly 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages, escalating the war in Gaza and Lebanon and causing over 43,000 Palestinian deaths. Israeli officials have stated that no hostages were harmed in the strike that killed Sinwar, who had built a powerful militia focused on toppling Israel. His leadership was marked by a refusal to compromise in cease-fire negotiations, and he was seen as a key obstacle to political legitimacy for Hamas. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz labeled him a 'mass murderer' in his confirmation of Sinwar's death.