War is not over, Netanyahu says
No arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant despite chief prosecutor’s request
The Israeli claim that Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, has been killed comes five months after chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Kahn applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC prosecutors said there are reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, military chief Mohammed al-Masri (known as Mohammed Deif) and Hamas’s late political leader Ismail Haniyeh, bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity
Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran’s capital, Tehran, in July in what Hamas and Iran say was an Israeli attack.
Israel has claimed to have killed Deif in an attack that killed 90 Palestinians in al-Mawasi in August, although there has not been any confirmation from Hamas
The Israeli prime minister says the war is not over and that in Gaza, Beirut and the region, “light is prevailing over darkness,” according to translated remarks.
More to follow …
Israel claims Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed
Israel says its forces have killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday in southern Gaza
After completing the process of identifying the body, it can be confirmed that Yahya Sinwar was eliminated,” the Israeli military said.
“The dozens of operations carried out by the [Israeli military] and ISA [Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security service,] over the last year and in recent weeks in the area where he was eliminated restricted Yahya Sinwar’s operational movement as he was pursued by the forces and led to his elimination
The Israeli army and police carried out DNA checks to confirm Sinwar’s identity after it said its forces in Gaza had killed three people
Biden: With Sinwar’s killing, ‘opportunity for day after in Gaza’
US President Biden has issued a statement saying he was informed by Israel of the results of DNA confirming the killing of Sinwar in Gaza.
“This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world”, he said, adding that US intelligence contributed to Israel’s manhunt for the Hamas leader over the course of the last year.
US President Joe Biden makes his way to board Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday
Some reactions from European leaders to Israeli claims of Sinwar’s killing
French President Emmanuel Macron
“Yahya Sinwar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of October 7”.
“Today, I think with emotion of the victims, including 48 of our compatriots, and their loved ones. France demands the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.”
Italy’s FM Antonio Tajani
“It seems that the military leader of Hamas has been killed and I believe that from this point of view Israel may have carried out its self-defence against the Hamas terrorists”.
“I hope that the disappearance of the Hamas leader will lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.”
German FM Annalena Baerbock
“Sinwar was a brutal murderer and terrorist, who wanted to destroy Israel and its people. As the mastermind of the terror on October 7 he brought death to thousands of people and immeasurable suffering to a whole region”.
“Hamas must now release all hostages and lay down its weapons, the suffering of the people in Gaza must finally end
Celebrations in Israel after government says Hamas leader killed
US House speaker says Sinwar ’embodiment of evil’
The Republican speaker of the House of Representatives in the US, Israel’s top military and diplomatic ally, has applauded the claim by Israel that Sinwar has been killed, saying his death brings “relief” to the people of Israel.
“Sinwar’s life was the embodiment of evil and marked by hatred for all that is good in the world,” Mike Johnson said in a statement
“His death brings hope for all those who seek to live in freedom, and relief to Israelis he has sought to oppress