On October 17, 2024, President Joe Biden confirmed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and mastermind behind the devastating October 7 attacks, was killed in a targeted operation by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Speaking on the event, in a press release statement, Joe Biden described Sinwar’s death as a “praise-worthy” victory for both Israel and the United States, remarking that it was “a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.”
In his official statement, Biden provided details of the Israeli mission that led to the death of Sinwar, who had been in hiding within Gaza’s extensive tunnel networks.
The President confirmed that DNA tests had verified Sinwar’s death, marking the culmination of a coordinated intelligence effort between the United States and Israel. “Shortly after the October 7 massacres,” Biden stated, “I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza.”
Sinwar, a key figure in Hamas, was held responsible for orchestrating the brutal attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people, including 46 Americans.
President Joe Biden Recount scale of violence unleashed by Hamas on October 7
The attacks involved unprecedented brutality, with Biden emphasizing the scale of the violence: “It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally—and with unspeakable savagery—kill and massacre civilians, a Holocaust survivor, children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children.”
The President reflected on the parallels between the U.S. response to Sinwar’s death and the 2011 mission that killed Osama bin Laden, stating that for Israel, this was “no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama bin Laden.”
He added that Sinwar’s demise represented a crucial step toward ending Hamas’s capacity to launch further large-scale attacks on Israeli civilians.
“Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7,” Biden asserted.
Beyond the immediate military significance, Biden also hinted at broader political implications.
He referred to the potential for a “day after” scenario in Gaza, envisioning a future without Hamas in power, and a possible pathway toward a political settlement that could benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.
“Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals,” Biden remarked. “That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.”
Biden’s statement acknowledged the deep impact that Sinwar’s death would have on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, but he stressed that the war, which has devastated civilians in Gaza, was far from over.
The President expressed hope that Sinwar’s elimination could open the door to the safe return of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. Of the more than 250 hostages, 101 remained missing, including seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive.
“I will be speaking soon with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all,” Biden announced.
President Biden concluded his statement by emphasizing that Sinwar’s death should not be seen merely as the end of a chapter but as an opportunity for a renewed effort to achieve peace in the region.
Despite Sinwar’s elimination, he cautioned that significant challenges remain, and efforts toward a lasting solution would require continued cooperation between Israel, the United States, and the broader international community.
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As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, Biden’s remarks underscore the deepening ties between the U.S. and Israel in counterterrorism efforts, as well as the potential for a recalibrated political landscape in the aftermath of Sinwar’s death.
