Washington DC [US], October 18, 2024: After Israel confirmed the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the deadly October 7 attacks last year, U.S. President Joe Biden called it a “good day” for Israel and the world. The President highlighted the role of American intelligence in assisting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to track down Hamas leaders, reaffirming that Israel has “every right” to pursue and eliminate terrorists.
Speaking at a press conference, President Biden drew parallels between Sinwar’s elimination and the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, saying, “To my Israeli friends, this is no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.”
Biden emphasized that the death of Sinwar, who was responsible for the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, “proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.” The President also stressed the need for a future without Hamas, hinting at a “political settlement” that could lead to a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians. “Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us,” he said.
Recalling the events of October 7, 2023, Biden detailed the horror of the attacks orchestrated by Sinwar, labeling it as the “deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.” Over 1,200 people lost their lives, including 46 Americans, and more than 250 individuals were taken hostage. “He was the mastermind of the October 7th massacres, rapes, and kidnappings,” Biden said, describing the attacks as acts of “unspeakable savagery.”
The President confirmed that the successful mission in Gaza was facilitated by cooperation between U.S. intelligence services and Israeli forces. “Shortly after the October 7 massacres, I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders,” Biden stated. He added that their collaborative efforts led to IDF’s relentless pursuit, ultimately flushing out Sinwar.
Biden also mentioned his upcoming conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to personally congratulate him on the operation. Since the attacks last October, eliminating Sinwar has been Israel’s top priority, and the U.S. has continued to stand by its ally in its counter-offensive against Hamas.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas reignited after the October 7, 2023 attacks, which saw about 2,500 terrorists breach the border from Gaza into Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Israel responded with a strong counter-offensive, aiming to dismantle the terror group while minimizing civilian casualties.
