Israel carries out raids in Gaza after the assassination of Hamas chief Sinwar

“POSSIBILITY”

Some Israelis greeted the news of Sinwar’s death as a sign of better things to come.

“I celebrate the death of Sinwar, who brought us nothing but harm, who took people hostage,” said an Israeli woman, Hemda, who gave only her first name.

At a rally in Tel Aviv demanding the hostages’ release, 60-year-old Sisil, who also gave only her first name, said his killing offered a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for “a hostage deal to end the war “.

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, Biden called him to congratulate him on Sinwar’s killing, with the two leaders vowing to “seize an opportunity to promote the release of the hostages.”

Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government and international mediators to “use this major achievement to secure the return of hostages.”

Andrew Miller, until recently a senior State Department official dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Israel is unlikely to agree to a negotiated solution to end the war and free the hostages for the time being.

“I am not particularly optimistic that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition will do this. Another Israeli government might do that, but they just haven’t shown any real interest in this path,” said Miller, now on the left of parliament. Center for American Progress.

But he said Sinwar’s killing could change “the public conversation” and deprive Netanyahu of a clear reason not to reach a deal with Hamas.

“IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT”

With Hamas already weakened more than a year after the war in Gaza, Sinwar’s death deals a huge blow to the organization, but whether this will bring about a change in its own strategy is unclear.

It is also unclear whether his successor will be appointed in Qatar, where Hamas’s political leadership has long been based, or in Gaza, where the fighting is focused.

The Israeli military said Sinwar was killed in a firefight in Rafah in southern Gaza, near the Egyptian border, while being tracked by a drone.

It released drone footage of what it said were Sinwar’s final moments, with the video showing a wounded militant throwing an object at the drone.

Israel is also waging a war in Lebanon, where Hamas ally Hezbollah opened a front by launching cross-border attacks that forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee their homes.

Hezbollah said late Thursday that it was launching a new phase in its war against Israel and that it had used precision-guided missiles against troops for the first time.

On the same day, Israel launched attacks on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, where the militant group and its allies hold sway.

The Israeli military said five soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, bringing to 19 the number of announced troop deaths since Israel raided Lebanon last month.

In Lebanon, the war has killed at least 1,418 people since late September, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese Health Ministry figures, although the real toll is likely higher.

The war has also attracted other armed groups linked to Iran, including Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

Iran carried out a rocket attack on Israel on October 1, for which Israel has vowed to retaliate.

Tehran’s mission to the United Nations said on Thursday that Sinwar’s killing would lead to strengthening “resistance” in the region.