Tel Aviv: Hours after Israel confirmed the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas chief and mastermind behind the October 7 attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the people of Gaza, stating that the war could end “as soon as tomorrow” if Hamas agrees to lay down its arms and release the hostages.
Netanyahu shared a video on X, where he said, “Yahya Sinwar is dead. He was killed in Rafah by the brave soldiers of the Israeli Defence Forces. While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end. To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message—this war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages.”
On Thursday, the Israel Defence Forces confirmed that Sinwar and two other terrorists had been eliminated.
In his address, Netanyahu also revealed that Hamas is currently holding 101 hostages in Gaza, including citizens from 23 countries. “Hamas is holding 101 hostages in Gaza who are citizens of 23 countries, citizens of Israel, but citizens of many other countries. Israel is committed to doing everything in our power to bring all of them home. Israel will guarantee the safety of all those who return our hostages,” he said.
He issued a stern warning to those holding Israeli hostages, promising relentless pursuit and justice. “But to those who would harm our hostages, I have another message—Israel will hunt you down and bring you to justice,” Netanyahu vowed.
He also conveyed a message of hope, highlighting the collapse of the “axis of terror” built by Iran, and referenced the elimination of key Hezbollah leaders. “Nasrallah is gone, his deputy Mohsen is gone, Haniyeh is gone, Deif is gone, Sinwar is gone. The reign of terror that the Iranian regime has imposed on its own people and on the peoples of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, too, will come to an end,” Netanyahu said.
He concluded by calling for unity to build a peaceful future in the region. “All those who seek a future of prosperity and peace in the Middle East should unite to build a better future. Together, we can push back the forces of darkness and create a future of light and hope for all of us.”
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale terror attack on Israel. Approximately 2,500 terrorists crossed the border from Gaza into Israel, killing over 1,200 people, including citizens from more than 30 countries, and taking over 250 hostages.
Israel responded with a strong counter-offensive in Gaza, pledging to “completely eliminate” Hamas. However, the increasing civilian casualties have raised global concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The United Nations and several nations have called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and increased aid to the civilian population in the Strip.
