From Biden, Harris in US to France's Macron, here's how Western leaders reacted to Sinwar's death

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the Gaza war, was shot dead along with two other terrorists in a firefight in Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Wednesday (October 17).

Israeli top brass, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, celebrated this killing.

Western leaders also hailed the development, while urging Hamas to free its remaining Israeli hostages.

Here are reactions from some world leaders:

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: The US president was was travelling to Germany as the news broke. “This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” Biden said in a written statement.

He said he would soon be speaking with Netanyahu to “discuss the pathway” for securing the release of hostages and “ending this war once and for all.”

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Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrat presidential candidate for the US elections, concurred. She said, “This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza[…]and it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends.”

French President Emmanuel Macron: Macron called for the release of “all hostages” held by Hamas in Gaza after the announcement of Sinwar’s death.

“Yahya Sinwar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of October 7,” Macron posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “France demands the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.”

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: “Sinwar was a brutal murderer and terrorist, who wanted to destroy Israel and its people,” Baerbock said. She called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages and lay down its arms.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey: Healey called Sinwar a “terror leader”, adding that the October 7 attack he allegedly masterminded “triggered not just the darkest, deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Second World War, but it’s triggered since more than a year of conflict and an intolerable level of civilian Palestinian casualties as well.”

Hamas has not released an official statement addressing the killing of Yahya Sinwar. Iran, which is the strongest backer of Hamas, is also yet to release any statement.

With inputs from agencies