Israeli military officials are looking to eliminate additional senior members of Hamas after killing the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar. They said they are now searching for his younger brother, Muhammad.
The chief spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, Daniel Hagari, made the announcement at a briefing on Thursday. It is said that Muhammad Sinwar was one of the plotters of the attack on Israel last October.
Media reported that Israeli leaders see Yahya’s death as an opportunity to secure the release of the approximately 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. The reports said Israel has already contacted Egypt and Qatar, who serve as mediators, as well as the US.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference on Friday that the killing of Yahya Sinwar means that “a huge obstacle” is now gone. He added that Sinwar devoted his life to “wrecking the chances” of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Austin said, “Sinwar’s death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire, to end this awful war and to rush humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
Hamas officials are not letting their guard down, however. They confirmed the killing of their leader but vowed to continue the fight.
Hamas’s deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said: “We assure that this blood will lighten our path and increase our motivation for perseverance. The Hamas movement will continue down the path of the founding leaders and martyrs until we attain the ambitions of our people.”
He added that the hostages will not return home until Israeli troops stop their aggression in Gaza and completely withdraw from the area.