‘Eliminated’: Five Tweets on the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Hamas’ top leader Yahya Sinwar, described as the mastermind of the October 7th attacks which killed 1,200 Israelis just over a year ago, has been confirmed dead by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Earlier today, photos circulated online showing his lifeless body buried in rubble in southern Gaza. His identity has been confirmed by Israeli soldiers who conducted DNA tests.

Sinwar’s death marks a major turning point in the Israel-Hamas war.

Here are five tweets on the world reacting to Sinwar’s death.

Earlier today, the Israeli Defence Forces made their announcement brief and to the point.

“He has been killed. He who killed and caused the worst massacre ever since the Holocaust,” said Netanyahu in a statement. “He was hiding in a little dark cave. And he was killed when he was running away from our soldiers. This is the end of the evil rule of Hamas.”

Up until today, the 62-year-old terrorist was believed to be seeking shelter in one of the hundreds of tunnels Hamas had built deep under Gaza.

The organization Bring Them Home, which represents the families and friends of those who were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th, posted the reactions of Orna and Ronen Neutra. Their son Omer has been held hostage for the past 377 days. Some 97 of the initial 250 hostages still remain in captivity in Gaza. Up until today, it was Sinwar who was primarily in charge of negotiating their release.

The parents called on Israel and the U.S. “…[T]o act swiftly and do whatever is needed to reach a deal with the captors.” They further reiterated that they wanted “…[A]ll attention…focused now on achieving the goal of a deal which will secure the release of our son Omer and the rest of the hostages.”

Hamas has yet to issue a statement about the death of its leader, but the Hamas-affiliated news outlet Gaza Now said they refuse to believe that Sinwar is in fact dead.

In the New York Times, Mohammed, a Palestinian in Gaza who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retribution, reacted to Sinwar’s death, blaming him for the conflict, the displacement of thousands of his countrymen, and the dire situation on the ground.

“He humiliated us, started the war, scattered us, and made us displaced, without water, food, or money, ” Mohammed said. “He is the one who made Israel do this.”

He said today was the best day of his life.

“Of the many leaders who chose war against Israel, all defeated, none led his followers to a more crushing and irreversible catastrophe than Yahya Sinwar,” concluded The Hub’s David Frum on X. Since October 7th, Hamas has lost five key leaders.

In the past few days, Israel has initiated a major air and ground assault in the region of the Jabalia refugee camp, which it insists is a meeting point for Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives. The Hamas-controlled Gaza health authority claims that 42,400 people (including civilians and terrorists) have been killed, since the conflict began. The UN reports that some 400,000 Palestinians are now without food, water, or medicine.

Back in Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau said a “reign of terror” had ended and a “measure of justice” had been delivered with Sinwar’s assassination.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Sinwar was a “malicious and sadistic man”, and that his death “is good news for all those who stand against terrorism.”

Many wonder if Sinwar’s death could act as an offramp for Hamas to truly negotiate with Israel. Others worry that revenge attacks could be carried out against the remaining hostages.