Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the people of Gaza after the confirmed killing of Hamas chief and mastermind of the October 7 attacks, Yahya Sinwar. He stated that the war could end immediately if Hamas surrenders its weapons and returns the hostages.
In a video shared on X, PM Netanyahu announced, "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."
The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that Sinwar, along with two other militants, had been killed. Netanyahu further revealed that Hamas is holding 101 hostages in Gaza, including citizens from 23 different countries, and reaffirmed the commitment of Israel to secure their release.
"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.
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Netanyahu also issued a stern warning, saying, "But to those who would harm our hostages, I have another message - Israel will hunt you down and bring you to justice. But to those who would harm our hostages, I have another message - Israel will hunt you down and bring you to justice. I also have a message of hope to the people of the region - the axis of terror that Iran built is collapsing before our eyes."
He referenced the deaths of key Hezbollah figures, including Hassan Nasrallah and his deputy Mohsen, along with other militants such as Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammed Deif, and Sinwar. Netanyahu emphasised that the influence of Iran’s regime, which extends across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, will soon come to an end.
"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, "he added.
According to media reports, the October 7 Hamas attack faced around 2,500 militants infiltrating Israel from Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people, including citizens from over 30 nations, and taking at least 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched an intense military operation in Gaza, pledging to destroy Hamas completely.