Jerusalem:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday that the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar within the Gaza Strip was the “starting of the top” of the year-long struggle within the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli navy stated that after a prolonged hunt, troops had on Wednesday “eradicated Yahya Sinwar, the chief of the Hamas terrorist organisation, in an operation within the southern Gaza Strip”.

Hamas has not confirmed his loss of life.

Netanyahu, who vowed to crush Hamas firstly of the struggle, hailed Sinwar’s killing, saying: “Whereas this isn’t the top of the struggle in Gaza, it is the start of the top.”

He had earlier referred to as Sinwar’s loss of life an “necessary landmark within the decline of the evil rule of Hamas”.

The chief of Hamas in Gaza on the time of the October 7 assault that sparked the struggle, Sinwar grew to become the militant group’s total chief after the killing in July of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh.

He’s stated to have masterminded the October 7 assault, the deadliest in Israeli historical past, which resulted within the deaths of 1,206 folks, largely civilians, in keeping with an AFP tally of official Israeli figures that features hostages killed in captivity.

Israel’s announcement of Sinwar’s loss of life comes weeks after it assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a strike in Lebanon, the place the Israeli navy has been at struggle since late September.

With Hamas already weakened greater than a yr into the Gaza struggle, Sinwar’s loss of life offers an immense blow to the organisation.

US President Joe Biden, whose authorities is Israel’s prime arms supplier, stated: “This can be a good day for Israel, for america, and for the world.”

“There may be now the chance for a ‘day after’ in Gaza with out Hamas in energy, and for a political settlement that gives a greater future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

– ‘Settling the rating’ –

Militants additionally seized 251 hostages through the October 7 assault and took them into Gaza. Ninety-seven stay there, together with 34 who Israeli officers say are lifeless.

Following the assault, Netanyahu vowed to defeat Hamas and convey dwelling all of the hostages.

Israel’s retaliatory marketing campaign has killed 42,438 folks in Gaza, the bulk civilians, in keeping with information from the well being ministry within the Hamas-run territory, figures which the UN considers dependable.

Israeli navy chief Herzi Halevi stated: “We’re settling the rating with Sinwar, who’s accountable for that very tough day a yr in the past.”

He vowed the navy would maintain preventing “till we seize all of the terrorists concerned within the October 7 bloodbath and convey all of the hostages dwelling”.

Some Israelis hailed the information of Sinwar’s loss of life as an indication of higher issues to return.

“I’m celebrating the loss of life of Sinwar, who has introduced us nothing however hurt, who has taken folks hostage,” stated one Israeli girl, Hemda, who solely gave her first title.

Attending a Tel Aviv rally demanding the hostages’ launch, 60-year-old Sisil, who additionally gave solely her first title, stated his killing introduced a “as soon as in a lifetime alternative” for “a hostage deal to finish the struggle”.

However whether or not the Hamas chief’s loss of life will convey the top of the struggle any nearer is unclear.

Warning that the hostages had been in “grave hazard”, Israeli navy historian Man Aviad stated Sinwar’s killing was “a major occasion… nevertheless it’s not the top of the struggle”.

Marketing campaign group the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board urged the Israeli authorities and worldwide mediators to leverage “this main achievement to safe hostages’ return”.

Based on an announcement from Netanyahu’s workplace, Biden referred to as him to congratulate him on Sinwar’s killing, with the 2 leaders vowing to grab “a chance to advertise the discharge of the hostages”.

Netanyahu stated Palestinian militants ought to free the hostages in the event that they wish to dwell.

– Last moments –

The Israeli navy stated Sinwar was killed in a firefight in southern Gaza’s Rafah, close to the Egyptian border, whereas being tracked by a drone.

It launched drone footage of what it stated was Sinwar’s closing moments, with the video exhibiting a wounded militant throwing an object on the drone.

With the civilian toll in Gaza mounting, Israel has confronted criticism over its conduct of the struggle, together with from america.

In northern Gaza’s Jabalia, two hospitals stated Israeli air strikes on a faculty sheltering displaced folks killed at the least 14 folks, although the navy reported that it had hit militants.

Based on a UN-backed evaluation, some 345,000 Gazans face “catastrophic” ranges of starvation this winter.

Practically one hundred pc of Gaza’s inhabitants now lives in poverty, the UN’s Worldwide Labour Group stated, warning that the struggle’s impression on Gaza “will likely be felt for generations to return”.

– Struggle in Lebanon –

Israel can be preventing a struggle in Lebanon, the place Hamas ally Hezbollah opened a entrance by launching cross-border strikes that compelled tens of 1000’s of Israelis to flee their houses.

Hezbollah stated Thursday it was launching a brand new section in its struggle towards Israel, saying it had used precision-guided missiles towards troops for the primary time.

On the identical day, Israel performed strikes on the south Lebanese metropolis of Tyre, the place the militant group and its allies maintain sway.

The Lebanese Nationwide Information Company reported strikes on the Bekaa Valley, after Israel had issued an evacuation warning for civilians there.

The Israeli navy stated 5 troopers had been killed in fight in southern Lebanon, taking to 19 the variety of troop deaths introduced since Israel started raids into Lebanon final month.

In Lebanon, the struggle since late September has left at the least 1,418 folks lifeless, in keeping with an AFP tally of Lebanese well being ministry figures, although the actual toll is probably going increased.

The struggle has additionally drawn in different Iran-aligned armed teams, together with in Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

Iran on October 1 performed a missile strike on Israel, for which Israel has vowed to retaliate.

Tehran’s mission to the United Nations stated Thursday that Sinwar’s killing would result in the strengthening of “resistance” within the area.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)