Israel has pledged to eliminate Hamas’s new political leader, with an official from the IDF stating that the only fitting place for him is alongside the organization’s deceased military commander and the remaining “October 7th terrorists.”
Yahya Sinwar, the most senior Hamas official in Gaza and one of the key figures behind the massacre that ignited the Israel-Hamas conflict, has taken over as Hamas’s new political chief following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on July 31.
“Yahya Sinwar has only one destination, and it is next to Mohammed Deif and the other October 7th terrorists,” stated Israel Defense Forces Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari in an interview with Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya, as reported by The Associated Press.
Israel claims to have killed Deif, who heads Hamas’s military wing and played a significant role in the October 7 attack, in a strike in southern Gaza last month; however, Hamas has not confirmed his death.
HAMAS INTRODUCES YAHYA SINWAR, ARCHITECT OF THE OCT. 7 ATTACKS, AS ITS NEW LEADER FOLLOWING HANIYEH’S ASSASSINATION
Yahya Sinwar, depicted here second from right in Gaza City in December 2022, was formerly Hamas’ leader in Gaza. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist responsible for the most horrific terrorist attack in history — October 7th,” Hagari stated further during the Al-Arabiya interview.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on Tuesday that Sinwar wields the influence necessary to facilitate a cease-fire agreement in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
“Sinwar has been and continues to be the key decision-maker regarding the cease-fire, which emphasizes that it is entirely up to him to pursue a cease-fire that would undoubtedly benefit many Palestinians who are urgently in need, including women, children, and men trapped in the crossfire,” Blinken explained. “It really is on him.”
ISRAEL ANNOUNCES THE KILLING OF TOP HAMAS MILITARY COMMANDER MOHAMMED DEIF
Yahya Sinwar has assumed the role of Hamas’ new political chief following the recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, as shown above, in Tehran, Iran. (AP)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has previously labeled Deif the “Osama Bin Laden of Gaza.”
“Deif worked closely with Yahya Sinwar and during the conflict, he led Hamas’s terrorist operations in the Gaza Strip by coordinating commands and directives to senior officials of Hamas’s Military Wing,” the IDF stated earlier this month when announcing his death.
A photo, undated, of Mohammad Deif, who Israel claims was killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. (Reuters)
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During the October 7 attack, Hamas militants killed 1,200 individuals in southern Israel and kidnapped 251 hostages into the Gaza Strip. Sinwar is presumed to be in hiding within Gaza.
Contributions to this report were made by Fox News’ Scott McDonald, Chris Pandolfo, and The Associated Press.
