Israel’s elimination of top Hamas terrorist was a result of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defiance of the Biden administration’s efforts to end the Gaza war, block Israel from entering Rafah, experts say
The Biden administration last week congratulated Israel and the IDF on the killing of Yahya Sinwar – chief of the Hamas politburo, leader of Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip, and architect of the October 7th invasion – lauding his elimination as “relief” and the removal of “an insurmountable obstacle” to ceasefire talks.
A number Middle East and counter-terrorism experts, however, say Sinwar’s elimination would not have been possible had Israel followed calls by the Biden administration to end the war against Hamas or caved to pressure from the White House not to enter the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where Sinwar was ultimately shot and killed.
Since the beginning of 2024, the Biden administration has urged Israel to end its war in the Gaza Strip and reach a permanent ceasefire with Hamas.