10/17/2024–|Last updated: 10/17/202407:49 PM (Mecca time)
Israeli Army Radio confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold urgent security consultations this evening, Thursday, with the participation of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and army commanders, after the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Yahya Sinwar, was likely killed, while the families of the detainees demanded an immediate deal, as the United States was informed. With developments.
Galant, along with Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, held security consultations on the Gaza Strip border after announcing the possibility of Sinwar’s death.
Galant said on the “X” platform after announcing the possibility of Sinwar’s death that Israel “will pursue and kill its enemies.”
Axios quoted an Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu’s focus is currently on returning the detainees by any means, noting that the killing of Sinwar creates a “great opportunity” for that, according to his description.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a message to foreign ministers around the world that “Israel assassinated Sinwar,” according to his description, adding that this creates the possibility of the immediate release of detainees.
Report to Washington
In Washington, Pentagon officials said that Israel had notified ministry officials of the possible killing of Sinwar and was awaiting updates.
The American CNN network quoted an informed source as saying that Israel informed the administration of US President Joe Biden that they are currently conducting a DNA test to confirm Sinwar’s killing.
The network also quoted American officials as saying that Sinwar’s killing, if confirmed, would represent an important moment for Netanyahu to announce what they called “victory in Gaza” and revive ceasefire talks.
An American official told CNN that the American administration does not know whether the possible killing of Sinwar might accelerate the ceasefire or whether the road is long, especially since the ongoing military conflict between Hezbollah and Israel may complicate any possible opportunity to end the war.
Demands for a deal
For its part, Israeli Channel 12 reported that the families of the detainees were concerned about the fate of their relatives in the Gaza Strip after Sinwar was likely killed.
The channel said that the families of the Israeli detainees are demanding to benefit from the killing of Sinwar to reach an immediate agreement to return their families.
For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called for seeking to reach a comprehensive agreement to return the detainees, saying, “Israel must seize the opportunity.”
The Israeli army said earlier today that it was examining the possibility of Sinwar’s death, after clashes that took place by chance in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, which led to the death of 3 fighters, one of whom might be the leader of the Hamas movement.
There has not yet been any statement or confirmation from Hamas regarding the Israeli army’s announcement of the killing of Sinwar.
Israel considers Sinwar its most wanted man, as it accuses him of responsibility for the Al-Aqsa flood operation on October 7, 2023, which led to the killing of about 1,200 Israeli soldiers and settlers.
