Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on October 17, 2024.

Israeli forces in Gaza killed Hamas’ top leader Sinwar, a chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said on October 17, 2024. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel’s most wanted man.

Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores, just over a year after Hamas-led militants surged out of Gaza into southern Israel in an attack that stunned the country. They also presented it as a moment for Hamas to surrender and release some 100 hostages it still holds captive.

Still, Netanyahu said, “Our war has not yet ended.” Besides seeking the release of hostages, Netanyahu has said Israel must keep long-term control over Gaza to ensure Hamas does not rearm — opening the possibility of continued fighting.

For Hamas, Sinwar's death is a crippling blow, but it has continually proven resilient during the war. There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas of Sinwar's death.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed Hamas fighters, saying it “is time to go out, release the hostages, raise your hands, surrender.”

Sinwar has been Hamas’ top leader inside the Gaza Strip for years, closely connected to its military wing while dramatically building up its capabilities. He was elevated to Hamas' highest spot in July after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an apparent Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran.

In the past months, Israel has eliminated a string of senior figures from Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah with airstrikes. Israel has claimed to have killed the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike, but the group has said he survived.

But in Sinwar's case, troops found him by chance.

An Israeli military official said that Sinwar "engaged in combat” with Israeli troops operating in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, and was spotted running into a building. The army struck the building with tank fire.

The army had suspected a number of top Hamas officials including Sinwar were in the vicinity, but Sinwar was not the target of that day's specific operations, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity under military briefing rules.

[damonwereman]

Prayers, Blessings, and Victory for Israel. Have a Safe and Blessed Sukkot.

[Anthonymay-ec]

There is no Goliath bigger than God, And no armies mightier.Amen glory be to the Lord.

[vickietaylor]

He was a monster. Thank you IDF for all you do to keep Israel safe. I Forever stand with Israel and I love Israel with all my heart ❤️

[heyigotchaosjuice]

Excellent job Prime Minister!! You are a true leader and I will always stand behind Israel and especially your amazing military, the IDF. 🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸

[danhouston]

Thank you for this translation. I was digging hard for it.

[JohnSmith-kozq]

Benjamin Netanyahu will go down in history as one of the greatest leaders in the World

[albertsowap]

Nothing is impossible for God.We are praying for victory for the nation of Israel 🙏

[homesteadlife]

Never trade prisoners for hostages again.

[Ck-oy]

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for protection of Israel ❤🇮🇱

[goszen]

I appreciate this man. You are not alone. God bless you!

[AmbaMusa-mvzk]

Glory be to God Almighty, praying for Israel and IDF 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱

[michaelgibson]

Congratulations to Israel and there security forces 👏

[intcm]

Thank you for being a leader. Thank you for standing for truth.

[ericakaalsen]

Thank you Lord! We pray to God to give wisdom to the Israel leaders! Amen, glory to God

[josephthompson]

You are a good leader for your people and a friend of humanity. God cares for his people and punishes the evil.

[samuelrajkumar]

Heartfelt condolences to Al Jazeera, MSNBC, ABC, BBC & CNN. Can't imagine what they're going through

[pieterlabuschagne]

Congratulations PM Netanyahu. You done more than the UN or the USA.

[observersnt]

I’m not Jewish, have no Jewish affiliations and am not politically motivated, but Netanyahu has been further vindicated. He is one of the world’s most courageous, powerful and intelligent leaders. Whist fighting this war he had faced strong opposition from many cowardly world leaders and not a little opposition at home, but all of his life he has been totally dedicated to Israel, much more so than most previous leaders.
I wish there were more leaders like him in the world, the Dutch seem to have one that is unafraid to challenge Islamic ideology, sadly extreme right views are generally anti semitic and anti semitism is an evil. The British haven’t leaders. We are not LED in Britain, our government FOLLOWS the ideological, the extremist, the woke. It follows the people instead of leading and is reaping what it sows because there are so many conflicting interests in the population. We need the patriotism of Netanyahu here.
We need a military as professional, disciplined and intelligent as the IDF. Heaven help us if we are ever alone like Israel, our government can’t even manage our country. I’ve been staggered by the courage, ingenuity, intelligence and humanity of this organisation. Surely one of the most advanced militaries in the history of mankind. My admiration of them began in their formative years when Moshe Dayan was minister of defence. I think even the most anti semitic person, organisation or country will be secretly in awe of the IDF. The whole world will learn from the IDF and the government of Israel’s management of the conflict, a conflict they will genuinely not have wanted. I Wish Britain deserved the prefix “great.” So sad to see the sacrifices of so many given away because of the few. 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱

[charliechan]

As an American I stand proudly with the people of Israel.

[Dr_PhilK]

Isaiah 54:17 (NIV):

"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, " declares the Lord.

❤❤❤❤❤