Yahya Sinwar’s Death and the United States’ Push to End the Middle East Crisis
The leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, at the International Quds Day festival in Gaza City in 2023. (Photo: NYT/Samar Abu Elouf)
On Oct. 16, 2024, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), was killed by the Israeli military. Sinwar was an early member of Hamas, which was founded in 1987. In 1988, he was arrested and prosecuted for the killings of four Palestinians allegedly working with Israel. He spent over two decades in Israeli prisons, during which he learned Hebrew, studied Israeli history, and became a key figure in negotiations within the prison. In 2011, Sinwar was released in a prisoner swap that secured the return of an Israeli soldier. He became the leader of Hamas in 2017 and played a central role in the planning of the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 250 hostages in Gaza. After the attack, Sinwar avoided public appearances, spending most of his time in secret tunnels and buildings.
On Oct. 17, 2024, President Joe Biden issued a statement aboard Air Force One regarding Sinwar’s death. In his statement, Biden said it was a “good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.” He condemned the horrific crimes committed by Sinwar and likened the relief of Sinwar’s death to the relief felt in 2011 when former President Obama ordered the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. Biden also stated that Sinwar had been an obstacle to achieving a peaceful settlement to the conflict, and now that this “obstacle no longer exists,” there is a better chance for peace.
Vice President Kamala Harris at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee speaking on the killing of Yahya Sinwar on Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo: AP News/Jacquelyn Martin)
Minutes after Biden issued his statement about Sinwar, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the killing while at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for a campaign event. Her speech echoed many of Biden’s points, including the sentiment that the world is better off. She discussed the attacks committed by Sinwar, and how US intelligence and special operations worked closely with their Israeli counterparts to track him. Harris emphasized that it is now time to end the war in Gaza. She stated that for the war to end, Israel must be secure, the hostages must be released, the suffering in Gaza must cease, and the Palestinian people must be able to realize “their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.” Additionally, Harris warned that any terrorist who kills or threatens the American people, troops, or interests will always be brought to justice.
On Oct. 13, 2024, just days before Sinwar’s killing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to senior Israeli officials, informing them that Israel had 30 days to increase humanitarian aid access in Gaza or risk restrictions on US military assistance. The letter outlined the steps Israel must follow within 30 days to continue receiving its current US aid. Additionally, Blinken called various influential leaders in the Middle East, including the Qatari prime minister and the Saudi foreign minister. Both calls focused on ending the conflict, securing the release of hostages, and helping the people of Gaza rebuild their lives.
Following Sinwar’s death, there is hope that the conflict between Israel and Palestine may come to an end. As demonstrated by Biden’s and Harris’s remarks on Sinwar’s death, the letter sent to Israeli officials by Austin and Blinken, and Blinken’s phone calls with Middle Eastern leaders, the US is actively seeking to end the conflict. The US is focused on improving humanitarian aid to Gaza and ensuring that Israel respects its conditions, or risks losing US military assistance. With Sinwar no longer in power, Hamas has lost its leader, and the US hopes this will lead to a quicker resolution of the conflict.