Israel/Gaza (MNN) — Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader and mastermind of last year’s brutal October 7th attack on Israel, was confirmed dead by the Israeli Defense Forces on Thursday. Sinwar was killed in an IDF military operation in Gaza.
Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “This is the beginning of the day after Hamas. Evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete.”
There are still 101 hostages from Israel held in Gaza. Some may even be held by other terror groups in connection with Hamas. Sinwar often hindered the negotiation process and had little interest in talks with Israel, according to both the United States and IDF.
With Sinwar now removed from power, Netanyahu made another play for the hostages, promising that anyone in Gaza who lays down their arms and returns hostages would be let go alive.
Yahya Sinwar (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154093051)
US President Joe Biden also put out a statement referring to this as ”a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to…the raid to kill Osama bin Laden in 2011.”
Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) says, “There are even some comparisons in the news to Saddam Hussein, and there are many discussions that go on. This is very critical. One of the most brutal things to happen was the October 7 attack.”
Now where does Israel’s war with Hamas go from here?
Mock offers, “One is the situational perspective — the reality of this war continuing on for more than a year now, the battle really occurring on multiple fronts for the nation of Israel, and the possibility with the elimination of one of their key leaders that maybe we can see the return of the hostages. Maybe we can see an end to this conflict.
“It may be wishful thinking […] So there may not be the peace that we all pray for, at least in the near term, but it is a step that may change the balance in trying to find a resolution to this conflict.”
Then, there’s the spiritual perspective. An SGA missionary pastor in Israel told Mock that no matter what happens, he remains focused on training up men and women in the Word of God.
Mock says, “I was challenged because I find myself glued to the TV, wondering what’s going to happen next in Israel, especially with Iran? What’s going to happen in Ukraine? What’s going to happen in our own election? And I have to admit that it’s very easy to be consumed with all these changing events and…sources of information to find out what’s happening.
“I think we should be reminded by this response to the faithful pastor that we should remain focused on the task at hand – which is advancing the Gospel – and on Christ.”
Pray for peace in the region and for both Israelis and Palestinians to know Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Ask God to use local Christians to proclaim biblical truth and make disciples in Christ, even in the midst of ongoing conflict.
Header photo of IDF chief and Shin Bet head visiting the site of Yahya Sinwar’s killing, October 2024. (Photo, caption courtesy of IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154042924)
