President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday to congratulate him on the Gaza mission that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. This was preceded by statements from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu also discussed how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and end the war, ensuring Israel's security and that Hamas can never again control Gaza. They agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days, both directly and through their national security teams.
Early this morning, the Israeli authorities informed my national security team that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was probably killed in a mission they carried out in Gaza. DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead. This is a good day for Israel, the United States and the world.
As leader of the Hamas terrorist group, Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans and citizens of more than 30 countries. He was behind the massacres, rapes and kidnappings of 7 October. It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to deliberately - and with unspeakable cruelty - kill and massacre civilians, Holocaust survivors, children in front of their parents and parents in front of their children.
More than 1,200 people were killed that day, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, including 46 Americans. More than 250 were taken hostage and 101 are still missing. That number includes seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive and being held by Hamas terrorists. Sinwar is the man most responsible for this and much of what followed.
Shortly after the massacres of 7 October, I ordered special operations personnel and our intelligence professionals, alongside their Israeli colleagues, to help find and track down Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza.
With the help of our intelligence services, the IDF relentlessly pursued Hamas leaders, flushing them out of their hideouts and forcing them to flee. Only rarely has there been such a military campaign, with Hamas leaders living and moving in hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, organized in several stories underground, determined to protect themselves without regard for the civilians suffering above ground. But today proves once again that no terrorist anywhere in the world can escape justice, however long it takes.
For my Israeli friends, today is undoubtedly a day of relief and remembrance, much like the scenes the entire United States witnessed after President Obama ordered the raid on Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Israel had every right to liquidate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another 7 October.
I will soon be speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the way forward to bring the hostages home to their families and to bring a definitive end to this war that has caused so much destruction to innocent people.
There is now an opportunity for a "day after" in Gaza without Hamas in power and for a political settlement that will ensure a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians. Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of these goals. That obstacle no longer exists. However, there is still much work to be done.
Today, Israel confirmed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is dead, justice has been done and the United States, Israel and the world are better off.
Sinwar was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent people, including the October 7 victims and hostages killed in Gaza. He had American blood on his hands.
Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas will feel relief and a measure of relief.
Sinvar was the architect of 7. October, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust - a terrorist attack that killed 1,200 innocent people and included horrific sexual violence and more than 250 hostages captured in Gaza, including seven living and deceased Americans still in captivity; the terrorist attack that sparked a devastating war in Gaza - a war that has led to untold suffering for many innocent Palestinians and greater instability throughout the Middle East.
Over the past year, American special operations and intelligence officers have worked closely with their Israeli counterparts to locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders, and I commend their work.
And to any terrorist who kills Americans, threatens the American people, or threatens our troops or our interests, I say this: We will always bring you to justice.
Israel has the right to defend itself and the threat that Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated.
Today, progress towards this goal is evident. Hamas is decimated and its leadership is removed.
This moment gives us the opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza, which must end so that Israel is safe, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination. And it is time for the day after to begin without Hamas in power.
We will not give up these goals and I will always work to create a future of peace, dignity and security for all.
Thank you all.
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