Killing of Yahya Sinwar plays on hopes and fears of Israelis and Palestinians

Uncertainty over whether death of Hamas leader might end war in Gaza and allow return of hostages, or spur Israel to increase attacks

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza city, in 2021. EPA

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News that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had been killed raised hopes among some Israelis and Palestinians that the year-long war in Gaza would end, while others feared it would only spur more fighting.

“I think it’s great news,” said Avi, 49, a banker from Tel Aviv who asked that only his first name be used. “He killed 1,200 people in Israel and took hundreds as hostages.”

The news broke as the streets of Jerusalem were quiet on Thursday evening, with most of the city’s Jewish residents busy marking the first day of the Sukkot holiday. Some people approached by The National declined to be interviewed, saying customs dictated that religious Jews should not engage with news on a religious holiday. Those who did all identified themselves as being opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

“We are leftists and voted against this government and we don’t want a war, but when you know someone wants to kill you, you have to kill him,” said Avi’s partner Kfir, 48, an IT specialist.

Mr Sinwar is the suspected mastermind of the attacks on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7 last year. More than 1,200 people were killed and and 251 taken hostage in Gaza, leading to Israel's war against Hamas that has killed more than 42,400 people and injured more than twice that number, while laying most of the enclave to waste.

Avi and Kfir said they often attended anti-government protests in Tel Aviv, including those demanding that the government works harder to free the hostages. Mr Netanyahu wanted to continue the war, they claimed, to avoid his government collapsing and the charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust that he faces in legal cases against him.

“We are not used to wars this long,” said Kfir.

Further down Jaffa Street, Shanevalla, 18, considered how difficult it was to determine if Mr Sinwar’s killing would make Israel safer. He said Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's killing in an Israeli air strike last month did not stop the Iran-backed group from firing volleys of rockets and drones from Lebanon, prompting Israel to launch a ground invasion.

“The issue is, even if he is dead, they're just going to install a new leader,” said Shanevalla, who is on a gap year. “Hopefully he's killed, but you can't kill an ideology. And I feel, I fear, that's what the Israeli government is trying to do, instead of bringing the hostages home.”

He is not the only Israeli to voice concern over the fate of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Another man suggested that Israel could call on Hamas to swap Mr Sinwar's body for the release of the hostages.

Others said that they did not believe Israel would be safer until Iran halted support to militants across the Middle East, who receive weapons, funding and training from Tehran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Obviously we took out Nasrallah, and hopefully we took out Sinwar – there are all of these proxy groups, you know, like the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah, all of these things are still being funded by Iran,” said Julia, 18, also on her gap year. “We still have the IRGC that's very much fully in power still, and it's completely the core of this issue.”

In Gaza, too, there were mixed opinions on the effect Mr Sinwar's killing would have on the war.

Mohammed Sufian, 29, a resident of the Shujaiyeh neighbourhood near Gaza city, whose home was partially destroyed in the war, said he was certain Mr Sinwar’s death would bring about some change.

“Israel has repeatedly stated that eliminating Sinwar and Hamas leaders is one of the war's objectives,” Mr Sufian told The National. “I’m not sure what kind of shift Sinwar’s killing might bring, but it's certain that the situation before his killing won’t be the same as after it.”

Mahmoud Jadallah, 31, a resident of the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, said Mr Sinwar’s death set back the Palestinian liberation movement and would encourage Israel to intensify its attacks.

"Losing a great figure like Sinwar will have a significant impact on the Palestinian cause and the liberation movement,” Mr Jadallah said. "He was a unifying leader, a fighter, and he died while holding his weapon on the battlefield. Such a person cannot be replaced, and many people are deeply saddened by his loss.

“With his killing, the occupation has achieved a clear victory that they will certainly market to their internal audience. However, it won’t end the war or change its course. On the contrary, the victory might fuel more crimes, and they may intensify their military pressure under the pretext of freeing hostages.”

Amani Abu Odeh, 24, said there had been mixed reactions to Mr Sinwar’s death among Palestinians. “Some people are happy, and others are upset. As for me, I remain neutral on this issue and don't consider it important. What matters to me is ending the war by any means necessary.

“We want it to stop so we can return to our homes in the north and get back to life as it was before. Sure, we can’t bring back the people we’ve lost, but at least we can get a bit of our lives back,” said Mr Abu Odeh, who lives in Deir Al Balah after being forced to leave his home in Beit Hanoun.

Mohammed Al Qarm, 40, a resident of Jabalia Camp who moved to the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood after his house was destroyed, also said the death of Mr Sinwar was not his main concern.

"I lost five family members in this war – killed in cold blood while they were sleeping in our home. I was injured too. That's what matters to me, not the killing of Sinwar or any other figure. It doesn’t matter to many people in Gaza either.

“People are exhausted, and just want the war to stop, nothing else. They don’t have the energy for these things any more. We hope his killing will be the reason this war ends, and life can return to how it was before."