Biden makes bold declaration after Hamas leader is killed

President Joe Biden on Thursday said the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, architect of the Oct. 7 attack, marked a good day for Israel , the United States and the world. Israeli forces hunted the terror mastermind for more than a year and his killing will likely prove a pivotal point in the Middle East crisis.

Biden praised Israeli special forces and compared the relief in Israel with the feeling in the U.S. when Osama bin Laden was killed more than a decade ago. ‘This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,’ he said.

But he also quickly pivoted to declaring that it was time to end the devastating conflict in Gaza , where Israel has said it will not stop its offensive until Hamas has been destroyed. ‘I will be speaking soon with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people,’ he said.

‘There is now the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.’ Netanyahu had already signaled he had no intention of easing off the assault on Gaza. ‘Evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete,’ he said as he confirmed the death.

The Israeli military said it had killed Sinwar in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. ‘After completing the process of identifying the body, it can be confirmed that Yahya Sinwar was eliminated,’ it said. Biden was traveling to Berlin aboard Air Force One when confirmation arrived.

His statement arrived by email, leaving his vice president to take the spotlight in front of TV cameras, in another sign of the way Biden is letting Kamala Harris take on some of the mantle of presidency. ‘He had American blood on his hands,’ she told reporters during a campaign stop in Wisconsin, noting that seven Americans had been captured by Hamas. ‘Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief.’

Sinwar was Hamas’ leader in Gaza and became the group’s de facto overall leader in July after the assassination of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. He is believed to have been hiding in the network of tunnels used by Hamas beneath Gaza.

His death could escalate violence in the Middle East, with reprisals by Hamas or its Iranian-backed allies. Or it could remove a hardline roadblock to progress in the region.

‘Now, there were other obstacles too along the way, but he was certainly a critical one,’ National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters traveling with the president aboard Air Force One to Berlin. ‘And yes, I think his removal from the battlefield does present an opportunity to find a way forward that gets the hostages home, brings the war to an end and brings us to a day after.’

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.