Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar’s assassination opens the possibility of bringing an end to the Iran-led axis of evil and renews the possibility of freeing the remaining 101 hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday night.
“We have a great opportunity to halt the [Iranian-led] axis of evil and to create a different future,” Netanyahu said as he appealed to regional leaders.
“A future of peace, a future of prosperity for the entire region,” he said.
The death of Sinwar
He spoke shortly after the IDF confirmed that its soldiers had killed the Hamas leader in Rafah.
Netanyahu said that the IDF”s actions proved the wisdom of the IDF’s military campaign in Gaza, particularly its insistence that the IDF must be able to operate in Rafah.
“Now it is clear to everyone, in Israel and in the world why we insisted on not ending the war, why we insisted in the face of all the pressures to enter Rafah, the fortified stronghold of Hamas where Sinwar and many of the murderers hid,” he said.
To the families of the hostages, who had been held for over a year, he said, “This is an important moment in the war. We will continue to work with all our powers to bring home all your loved ones, who are our loved ones.
“This is our highest commitment. This is my highest commitment,” Netanyahu stated.
To the Hamas terrorists he said, “your leaders are fleeing and they will be eliminated.”
Netanyahu urged those holding the hostages to release them, pledging that those who lay down their “weapon and returns our hostages” would be allowed to “leave and live.”
Similarly, he warned, “Whoever harms our hostages – their blood on his head. We will settle accounts with him.
“The return of our hostages is an opportunity to achieve all our goals and it brings the end of the war closer,” Netanyahu stated.
To the residents of Gaza, he said, “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. This is the beginning of the day after Hamas, and this is an opportunity for you, the residents of Gaza, to finally break free from its tyranny.”
