Congressman Brad Sherman Statement on the Elimination of Hamas Arch-terrorist and October 7th Mastermind Yahyah Sinwar

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Co-Chair of the House Israel Allies Caucus and Member of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group, released the following statement on the death of Yahya Sinwar – Hamas leader and one of the masterminds of the October 7th massacre against Israel:

“Today, Yahyah Sinwar – terrorist, Hamas Chief, and the architect of the October 7th massacre – has been brought to justice.

By eliminating Yahyah Sinwar, Israel has successfully achieved much of what it set out to do after Hamas’s brutal October 7th attack: hunt down those who planned and carried out October 7th, eradicate Hamas’s senior leadership, and end Hamas rule in Gaza. I applaud Israel in taking out this heinous terrorist who was responsible for the deaths of countless innocent Israelis and Americans, and I applaud President Biden for directing the U.S.’s best intelligence professionals to locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders. Make no mistake – Sinwar was also responsible for the deaths of countless Palestinians, who he has used as human shields throughout this and previous wars.

Sinwar’s elimination is a tremendous military feat by Israel, which has successfully taken out the world’s most dangerous and wanted terrorists. It is also an opportunity to bring home the hostages and finally see legitimate, Arab-led governance in Gaza that will end terrorist rule of the enclave.

Israel left Gaza in 2005 to create an opportunity for Palestinian self-governance. As then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said during his address to the Knesset ahead of its vote to approve the Gaza Disengagement Plan, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in the hopes that this would ‘advance [Israel] along the path of peace with the Palestinians and [its] other neighbors” and put an “end to this ongoing and malignant conflict between those who struggle over this land.’ 

Hamas squandered that opportunity after it violently took over the Gaza Strip and began immediately attacking Israel, needlessly beginning a cycle of wars that has destroyed the lives of Israelis and Palestinians alike for the last two decades. A different outcome was possible then and is still possible now.

The constant cycle of war that the people of Israel and Gaza have endured since Hamas’s takeover was completely avoidable, and Sinwar’s death presents a vital opportunity to turn the page. The remaining hostages must be released immediately, and Israel, the United States, and our allies must now take this opportunity to facilitate legitimate, Arab-led governance in Gaza and chart a path forward that brings greater security for both Israel and Gaza.”

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